Axial Commons
Hebrew / JewishChristianity
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Plain English · paraphraseAs they traveled, he came into a certain village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and listened to his words.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Plain English · paraphraseBut one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken from her.
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd it happened that, while he was praying in a certain place, when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Plain English · paraphraseHe said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as it is in heaven, so it is on earth."
Give us day by day our daily bread.
Plain English · paraphraseGive us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Plain English · paraphraseForgive us our sins, because we also forgive everyone who owes us. Do not lead us into temptation, but save us from evil.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to them, "Which of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
Plain English · paraphraseDo I not have anything to set before my friend who has come to me on his journey?
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Plain English · paraphraseI say to you, Even if he will not get up and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of the man's persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Plain English · paraphraseI tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Plain English · paraphraseEveryone who asks receives. The one who looks for something finds it. And to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Plain English · paraphraseIf a son asks for bread from any of you who are a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Plain English · paraphraseOr if he asks for an egg, will he be given a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Plain English · paraphraseIf you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. And when the demon left, the mute person spoke, and the people were amazed.
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
Plain English · paraphraseBut some of them said, "He casts out demons through Beelzebub, the chief of demons."
And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd others, testing him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
Plain English · paraphraseIf Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? You say I cast out demons through Beelzebub.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
Plain English · paraphraseBut when someone stronger than he comes against him and defeats him, he takes all his armor, which he trusted in, and divides his spoils.
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Plain English · paraphraseWhoever is not with me is against me. And whoever does not gather with me scatters.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen an unclean spirit leaves a man, it wanders through dry places looking for rest. Finding none, it says, "I will return to my house where I came out."
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd when he comes, he finds it swept and decorated.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Plain English · paraphraseThen he goes and brings seven other spirits, even more wicked than himself. They go in and live there. So the final condition of that man is worse than the first.
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd as he spoke these things, a woman in the group called out to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you."
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen the crowd gathered thickly, he began to say, "This is a wicked generation. They look for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
Plain English · paraphraseJust as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Plain English · paraphraseThe people of Nineve will stand up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it. They repented when Jonah spoke to them. And look, someone greater than Jonah is here.
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Plain English · paraphraseNo one who has lit a candle puts it in a hidden place or under a bushel. It is placed on a candlestick so that people entering can see the light.
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Plain English · paraphraseSo be careful that the light you have inside you is not really darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
Plain English · paraphraseIf your whole body is full of light, with no part dark, then the whole will be full of light, just as a bright candle gives you light.
And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to have dinner with him. And he went in and sat down to eat.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd when the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he had not washed before dinner.
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but your inside is full of greed and evil."
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Plain English · paraphraseBut give alms from what you have. And look, all things are clean for you.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Plain English · paraphraseBut woe to you, Pharisees! You tithe mint, rue, and every kind of herb, but you ignore justice and the love of God. These things you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Plain English · paraphraseWoe to you, Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and being greeted in the marketplaces.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
Plain English · paraphraseThen one of the lawyers answered and said to him, "Teacher, by speaking this way you are also insulting us."
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Woe to you as well, you lawyers! You place heavy burdens on people that are hard to carry, but you yourselves do not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers."
Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Plain English · paraphraseWoe to you! You build the tombs of the prophets, and your ancestors killed them.
Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
Plain English · paraphraseYou are certainly testifying that you approve of the actions of your ancestors, for they killed those people, and you are building their tombs.
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Plain English · paraphraseTherefore, the wisdom of God also said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute."
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Plain English · paraphraseThat the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the beginning of the world, may be demanded from this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Plain English · paraphraseWoe to you, lawyers! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and you stopped those who were trying to enter.
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Plain English · paraphraseLying in wait for him and trying to catch him saying something they could use to accuse him.
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Plain English · paraphraseAt the same time, a huge crowd had gathered, so many that they were stepping on one another. He began by speaking to his disciples: "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Plain English · paraphraseFor nothing that is covered will remain unrevealed, and nothing that is hidden will remain unknown.
Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Plain English · paraphraseTherefore, whatever you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed on the rooftops.
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd I say to you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Plain English · paraphraseBut I will warn you about who you should fear: Fear the one who, after killing, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Plain English · paraphraseBut every hair on your head is counted. So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Plain English · paraphraseAlso I say to you, whoever will confess me before people, the Son of Man will also confess that person before the angels of God:
But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Plain English · paraphraseBut the one who denies me in front of people will be denied in front of the angels of God.
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Ghost, it will not be forgiven.
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Plain English · paraphraseAnd when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and to powers, do not worry about how or what you will answer, or what you will say:
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Plain English · paraphraseThe Holy Spirit will teach you at that very time what you should say.
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Plain English · paraphraseHe said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or a decision-maker for you?"
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Plain English · paraphraseHe said to them, "Be careful and watch out for greed, because a man’s life does not depend on how many things he owns."
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he thought to himself, "What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?"
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. And there I will store all my crops and my possessions."
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will say to my soul, Soul, you have stored up many goods for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Plain English · paraphraseBut God said to him, "You fool, tonight your soul will be demanded from you. Then whose will those things be that you have prepared?"
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Plain English · paraphraseSo is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Plain English · paraphraseLife is more valuable than food, and the body is more valuable than clothing.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Plain English · paraphraseAnd which of you, by thinking, can add one cubit to his height?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Plain English · paraphraseIf you cannot do the least important thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Plain English · paraphraseLook at the lilies. They don’t work or weave. But I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Plain English · paraphraseIf then God clothes the grass of the field, which is today alive and tomorrow thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Plain English · paraphraseBut seek the kingdom of God instead. All these things will be given to you as well.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Plain English · paraphraseSell what you have, and give to the poor. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Plain English · paraphraseFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd you yourselves should be like people waiting for their master, who is returning from the wedding. So that when he comes and knocks, they can open for him right away.
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Plain English · paraphraseBlessed are those servants whom the lord, when he comes, finds watching. I tell you the truth, he will tie on an apron, serve them a meal, and come out to wait on them.
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and finds them like that, blessed are those servants.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd here is something to know: if the owner of the house had known what time the thief would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Plain English · paraphraseSo be ready as well. For the Son of Man will come at a time you do not expect.