Matthew 5 Comparison: Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version
Matthew 5
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying:—
3Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are the meek; for they will inherit the earth.
5Blessed are they who mourn; for they will be comforted.
6Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful; for they will obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart; for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peace-makers; for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say every thing that is bad against you, falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets that were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall itself be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid;
15nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the lamp-stand; and it giveth light to all that are in the house.
16In like manner let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17Think not that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill.
18For truly do I say to you, Not till heaven and earth pass away, shall one jot or one tittle pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I say to you, Unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, "Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the Judges."
22But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the Judges; and whoever shall say to his brother, Simpleton! shall be in danger of the Council; and whoever shall say, Fool! shall be in danger of hell-fire.
23Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee,
24leave there thy gift before the altar, and go away; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25Agree with thine adversary at law quickly, while thou art on the road with him; lest the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26Truly do I say to thee, Thou wilt not come out thence, till thou hast paid the last farthing.
27Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
28But I say to you, that whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy members should perish, than that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand cause thee to offend, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy members should perish, than that thy whole body should go away into hell.
31And it was said, "Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement."
32But I say to you, that whoever putteth away his wife, unless it be on account of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whoever shall marry her when put away, committeth adultery.
33Again ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, "Thou shalt not swear falsely, but shalt perform to the Lord thine oaths."
34But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King;
36nor shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37But let your language be, Yea, yea; Nay; nay; for whatever is more than these cometh of evil.
38Ye have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."
39But I say to you, that ye resist not the evil-doer; but whoever smiteth thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40and if any one intends to sue thee at the law, and take thy coat, give up to him thy cloak also;
41and whoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.
42Give to him that asketh of thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away.
43Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy."
44But I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you;
45that ye may become sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye that excelleth? Do not even the heathen the same?
48Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Understanding Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version in Matthew 5
Noyes Translation (1869) (Noyes)
A scholarly 1869 translation by George R. Noyes, aiming for precision and literary beauty. Known for its distinct Unitarian perspective and separate translation of poetical books like Psalms.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Matthew 5 in the Noyes Translation (1869) and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Matthew 5:16
"In like manner let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
