Isaac became father to Jacob;+
Pe′rez became father to Hez′ron;+
Hez′ron became father to Ram;+
4 Ram became father to Am·min′a·dab;
Am·min′a·dab became father to Nah′shon;+
Nah′shon became father to Sal′mon;
Bo′az became father to O′bed by Ruth;+
O′bed became father to Jes′se;+
Re·ho·bo′am became father to A·bi′jah;
A·bi′jah became father to A′sa;+
Je·hosh′a·phat became father to Je·ho′ram;+
Je·ho′ram became father to Uz·zi′ah;
Jo′tham became father to A′haz;+
A′haz became father to Hez·e·ki′ah;+
Ma·nas′seh became father to A′mon;+
A′mon became father to Jo·si′ah;+
12 After the deportation to Babylon, Jec·o·ni′ah became father to She·al′ti·el;
She·al′ti·el became father to Ze·rub′ba·bel;+
13 Ze·rub′ba·bel became father to A·bi′ud;
A·bi′ud became father to E·li′a·kim;
E·li′a·kim became father to A′zor;
14 A′zor became father to Za′dok;
Za′dok became father to A′chim;
A′chim became father to E·li′ud;
15 E·li′ud became father to El·e·a′zar;
El·e·a′zar became father to Mat′than;
Mat′than became father to Jacob;
17 All the generations, then, from Abraham until David were 14 generations; from David until the deportation to Babylon, 14 generations; from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ, 14 generations.
18 But this is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. During the time his mother Mary was promised in marriage to Joseph, she was found to be pregnant by holy spirit*+ before they were united. 19 However, because her husband Joseph was righteous and did not want to make her a public spectacle, he intended to divorce her secretly.+ 20 But after he had thought these things over, look! Jehovah’s* angel appeared to him in a dream, saying: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take your wife Mary home, for what has been conceived* in her is by holy spirit.+ 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,*+ for he will save his people from their sins.”+ 22 All of this actually came about to fulfill what was spoken by Jehovah* through his prophet, saying: 23 “Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will name him Im·man′u·el,”+ which means, when translated, “With Us Is God.”+
24 Then Joseph woke up from his sleep and did as the angel of Jehovah* had directed him, and he took his wife home. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son,+ and he named him Jesus.+
2 After Jesus had been born in Beth′le·hem+ of Ju·de′a in the days of Herod*+ the king, look! astrologers* from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying: “Where is the one born king of the Jews?+ For we saw his star when we were in the East, and we have come to do obeisance* to him.” 3 At hearing this, King Herod was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 On gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ* was to be born. 5 They said to him: “In Beth′le·hem+ of Ju·de′a, for this is how it has been written through the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Beth′le·hem of the land of Judah, are by no means the most insignificant city among the governors of Judah, for out of you will come a governing one, who will shepherd my people Israel.’”+
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the astrologers and carefully ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearing. 8 When sending them to Beth′le·hem, he said: “Go make a careful search for the young child, and when you have found him, report back to me so that I too may go and do obeisance to him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went their way, and look! the star they had seen when they were in the East+ went ahead of them until it came to a stop above where the young child was. 10 On seeing the star, they rejoiced with great joy. 11 And when they went into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and falling down, they did obeisance* to him. They also opened their treasures and presented him with gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 However, because they were given divine warning in a dream+ not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
13 After they had departed, look! Jehovah’s* angel appeared to Joseph in a dream,+ saying: “Get up, take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I give you word, for Herod is about to search for the young child to kill him.” 14 So Joseph got up and by night took along the young child and the child’s mother and went into Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what was spoken by Jehovah* through his prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”+
16 Then Herod, seeing that he had been outwitted by the astrologers, flew into a great rage, and he sent out and had all the boys in Beth′le·hem and in all its districts killed, from two years of age and under, according to the time that he had carefully ascertained from the astrologers.+ 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, who said: 18 “A voice was heard in Ra′mah, weeping and much wailing. It was Rachel+ weeping for her children, and she was unwilling to take comfort, because they are no more.”+
19 When Herod had died, look! Jehovah’s* angel appeared in a dream+ to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said: “Get up, take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the life* of the young child are dead.” 21 So he got up and took the young child and the child’s mother and entered into the land of Israel. 22 But hearing that Ar·che·la′us ruled Ju·de′a instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Moreover, being given divine warning in a dream,+ he withdrew into the territory of Gal′i·lee.+ 23 And he came and settled in a city named Naz′a·reth,+ in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Naz·a·rene′.”*+
3 In those days John+ the Baptist came preaching+ in the wilderness of Ju·de′a, 2 saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”+ 3 This, in fact, is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet+ in these words: “A voice of one calling out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah!* Make his roads straight.’”+ 4 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.+ His food was locusts and wild honey.+ 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Ju·de′a and all the country around the Jordan were going out to him,+ 6 and they were baptized* by him in the Jordan River,+ openly confessing their sins.
7 When he caught sight of many of the Pharisees and Sadducees+ coming to the baptism, he said to them: “You offspring of vipers,+ who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?+ 8 Therefore, produce fruit that befits repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’+ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 The ax is already lying at the root of the trees. Every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.+ 11 I, for my part, baptize you with water because of your repentance,+ but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to take off.+ That one will baptize you with holy spirit+ and with fire.+ 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor completely and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire+ that cannot be put out.”
13 Then Jesus came from Gal′i·lee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized by him.+ 14 But the latter tried to prevent him, saying: “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?” 15 Jesus replied to him: “Let it be this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous.” Then he quit preventing him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up,+ and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him.+ 17 Look! Also, a voice from the heavens+ said: “This is my Son,+ the beloved, whom I have approved.”+
4 Then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted+ by the Devil.+ 2 After he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he felt hungry. 3 And the Tempter+ approached and said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered: “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s* mouth.’”+
5 Then the Devil took him along into the holy city,+ and he stationed him on the battlement* of the temple+ 6 and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’”+ 7 Jesus said to him: “Again it is written: ‘You must not put Jehovah* your God to the test.’”+
8 Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.+ 9 And he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah* your God you must worship,+ and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”+ 11 Then the Devil left him,+ and look! angels came and began to minister to him.+
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested,+ he withdrew into Gal′i·lee.+ 13 Further, after leaving Naz′a·reth, he came and took up residence in Ca·per′na·um+ beside the sea in the districts of Zeb′u·lun and Naph′ta·li, 14 so as to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, who said: 15 “O land of Zeb′u·lun and land of Naph′ta·li, along the road of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Gal′i·lee of the nations! 16 The people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and as for those sitting in a region of deathly shadow, light+ rose on them.”+ 17 From that time on, Jesus began preaching and saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”+
18 Walking alongside the Sea of Gal′i·lee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter,+ and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.+ 19 And he said to them: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”+ 20 At once they abandoned their nets and followed him.+ 21 Going on from there, he saw two others who were brothers, James the son of Zeb′e·dee and his brother John.+ They were in the boat with Zeb′e·dee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.+ 22 At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Then he went throughout the whole of Gal′i·lee,+ teaching in their synagogues+ and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people.+ 24 And the report about him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all those who were suffering with various diseases and torments,+ those who were demon-possessed+ and epileptic+ and paralyzed, and he cured them. 25 Consequently, large crowds followed him from Gal′i·lee and De·cap′o·lis* and Jerusalem and Ju·de′a and from the other side of the Jordan.
14 “You are the light of the world.+ A city cannot be hid when located on a mountain. 15 People light a lamp and set it, not under a basket,* but on the lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house.+ 16 Likewise, let your light shine before men,+ so that they may see your fine works+ and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.+
17 “Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill.+ 18 Truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for one stroke of a letter to pass away from the Law until all things take place.+ 19 Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in relation to the Kingdom of the heavens. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in relation to the Kingdom of the heavens. 20 For I say to you that if your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees,+ you will by no means enter into the Kingdom of the heavens.+
21 “You heard that it was said to those of ancient times: ‘You must not murder,+ but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’+ 22 However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful+ with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·hen′na.*+
25 “Be quick to settle matters with your legal opponent, while you are with him on the way there, so that somehow the opponent may not turn you over to the judge, and the judge to the court attendant, and you get thrown into prison.+ 26 I say to you for a fact, you will certainly not come out of there until you have paid over your last small coin.*
27 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’+ 28 But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman+ so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.+ 29 If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you.+ For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Ge·hen′na.*+ 30 Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you.+ For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to land in Ge·hen′na.*+
33 “Again you heard that it was said to those of ancient times: ‘You must not swear without performing,+ but you must pay your vows to Jehovah.’*+ 34 However, I say to you: Do not swear at all,+ neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by earth, for it is the footstool of his feet;+ nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.+ 36 Do not swear by your head, since you cannot turn one hair white or black. 37 Just let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no,+ for what goes beyond these is from the wicked one.+
38 “You heard that it was said: ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’+ 39 However, I say to you: Do not resist the one who is wicked, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him.+ 40 And if a person wants to take you to court and get possession of your inner garment, let him also have your outer garment;+ 41 and if someone in authority compels you into service for a mile,* go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one asking you, and do not turn away from one who wants to borrow* from you.+
43 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor+ and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies+ and to pray for those who persecute you,+ 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens,+ since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.+ 46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have?+ Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 You must accordingly be perfect,* as your heavenly Father is perfect.+
