The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Plain English · paraphraseThis is the book of the family line of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Plain English · paraphraseAbraham had a son named Isaac. Isaac had a son named Jacob. Jacob had sons named Judas and his brothers.

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Judas had Phares and Zara by Thamar. Phares had Esrom. Esrom had Aram.

And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Aram had a son named Aminadab; Aminadab had a son named Naasson; and Naasson had a son named Salmon;

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Salmon was the father of Boaz, the son of Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed, the son of Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse.

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jesse was the father of David the king; and David the king was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Urias;

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Solomon had a son named Rehoboam; Rehoboam had a son named Abijah; Abijah had a son named Asa;

And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Asa had a son named Josaphat; and Josaphat had a son named Joram; and Joram had a son named Ozias;

And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

Plain English · paraphraseOzias had a son named Joatham; Joatham had a son named Achaz; Achaz had a son named Ezekias;

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Hezekiah had a son named Manasseh; Manasseh had a son named Amon; Amon had a son named Josiah;

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Josias had Jechonias and his brothers, around the time they were taken away to Babylon:

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Eliud was the father of Eleazar; and Eleazar was the father of Matthan; and Matthan was the father of Jacob;

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Plain English · paraphraseThe birth of Jesus Christ happened like this: While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Joseph, her husband, who was a good man and did not want to expose her publicly, decided to quietly send her away.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Plain English · paraphraseBut while he was thinking about these things, look, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to yourself Mary your wife, for what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd she will give birth to a son, and you will name him JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Plain English · paraphraseLook, a young woman will become pregnant and give birth to a son. They will name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Plain English · paraphraseThen Joseph got up from sleep and did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do. He took his wife.

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he had not known her until she had given birth to her firstborn son. And he named his name JESUS.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judaea, during the time of King Herod, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem.

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Plain English · paraphraseSaying, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him."

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah. For from you will come a Governor who will rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Herod, after secretly calling the wise men, carefully asked them when the star had appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search carefully for the young child. And when you have found him, let me know again, so that I may come and worship him too."

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen they heard the king, they left. And look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them, until it stopped over the place where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen they saw the star, they were filled with great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by a different route.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Plain English · paraphraseAfter they had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He said, "Get up, take the young child and his mother, and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is looking for the young child to kill him."

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Plain English · paraphraseWhen he got up, he took the young child and his mother that night and went to Egypt.

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd stayed there until Herod died. This was to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was very angry. He sent out men and killed all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding areas, from two years old and younger, according to the time he had carefully asked about from the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseThen what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

Plain English · paraphraseSaying, Get up, take the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel. Those who wanted to kill the child are dead.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseHe stood up and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Plain English · paraphraseBut when he heard that Archelaus ruled in Judaea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Nevertheless, after being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside to the region of Galilee.

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he came and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was said by the prophets would be fulfilled: "He will be called a Nazarene."

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Plain English · paraphraseIn those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Plain English · paraphraseRepent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Plain English · paraphraseThis is the one about whom the prophet Isaiah spoke, saying, "A voice is crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Plain English · paraphraseThen people from Jerusalem, all of Judaea, and the whole area around the Jordan went out to him.

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Plain English · paraphraseBut when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You snakes, who warned you to escape the coming anger?"