Matthew 23, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,

Classic

1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

Modern

2saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat.

Classic

2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Modern

3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.

Classic

3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Modern

4For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

Classic

4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Modern

5But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

Classic

5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Modern

6and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

Classic

6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Modern

7the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.

Classic

7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Modern

8But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.

Classic

8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Modern

9Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

Classic

9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Modern

10Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.

Classic

10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Modern

11But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

Classic

11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Modern

12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Classic

12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Modern

13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

Classic

13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Modern

14“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.

Classic

14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Modern

15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

Classic

15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Modern

16“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’

Classic

16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

Modern

17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

Classic

17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

Modern

18‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’

Classic

18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

Modern

19You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

Classic

19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

Modern

20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.

Classic

20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

Modern

21He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it.

Classic

21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

Modern

22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

Classic

22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

Modern

23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Classic

23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Modern

24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

Classic

24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Modern

25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.

Classic

25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Modern

26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Classic

26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Modern

27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Classic

27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Modern

28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Classic

28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Modern

29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,

Classic

29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Modern

30and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

Classic

30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Modern

31Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.

Classic

31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

Modern

32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

Classic

32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Modern

33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

Classic

33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Modern

34Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

Classic

34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Modern

35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

Classic

35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Modern

36Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Classic

36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

Modern

37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!

Classic

37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Modern

38Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

Classic

38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Modern

39For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Classic

39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.