Luke 6:20-35

20Jesus looked at his disciples. He spoke this message to them: ‘Happy are you people that are poor. The kingdom of God belongs to you.

21Happy are you people that are hungry now. God will feed you until you are full. Happy are you people that are crying now. Later, you will laugh.

22People may hate you, because you believe in me, the Son of Man. They may say bad things against you and make you go away from them. They may say that you are very bad. When that happens, be happy.

23God will prepare many good things for you in heaven. So be very happy when people do these bad things to you! Jump up and down because you are so happy. Their ancestors did the same bad things to God's prophets long ago.

24Listen, you that are rich. You have a comfortable life now, but it will be very bad for you.

25Listen, you that are full with food now. It will be very bad for you and you will be hungry. Listen, you that are laughing now. It will be very bad for you. You will be sad and you will cry.

26If people always say good things about you now, it will be very bad for you. Their ancestors also said good things about the false prophets long ago.’

27Jesus then said, ‘I say this to you who are listening carefully to me: Love the people who want to hurt you. Do good things to people that hate you.

28Say good things to people that say bad things against you. Pray for people who give you pain.

29Someone may slap you on one side of your face. Then you should let him slap the other side of your face too. Someone may take away your coat. If he does, do not stop him from taking your shirt too.

30When anyone asks you for something, give it to him. Someone may take something that belongs to you. If he does, let him keep it. Do not ask to have it back again.

31Do the good things for other people that you would want them to do for you.

32Do you only love people who love you? God will not praise you just for doing that! Even bad people love those people who love them.

33Do you only do good things to people that do good things to you? God will not praise you just for doing that! Even bad people do the same thing.

34Do you lend things only to people that will give your things back to you? God will not praise you for doing that! Even bad people lend things to other people when they believe that they will get them back again.

35No! I am telling you to love people that want to hurt you. Do good things to them. Lend things to people even though you may not receive your things back again. Then God will prepare good things for you. He is kind even to people who do not say “thank you”. He is kind even to very bad people. If you live like this, you will show that you really are children of the powerful God who is over all.