And turningHis gazetowardHis disciples,He [began] to say,"Blessed[are] you [who are] poor,for yoursis the kingdomof God.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
For you knowthe graceof our LordJesusChrist,that though He was rich,yet for your sakeHe becamepoor,sothat you through His povertymight become rich.
"Do not be afraid,littleflock,for your Fatherhas chosen gladlyto giveyou the kingdom.
"Thenthe Kingwill sayto thoseon His right,'Come,you who are blessedof My Father,inheritthe kingdompreparedfor you from the foundationof the world.
I knowyour tribulationand your poverty(but you are rich),and the blasphemyby thosewho saythey are Jewsand are not, but are a synagogueof Satan.
as sorrowfulyetalwaysrejoicing,as pooryetmakingmanyrich,as havingnothingyetpossessingall things.
"But I will leaveamongyou A humbleand lowlypeople,And they will takerefugein the nameof the LORD.
The afflictedalso will increasetheir gladnessin the LORD,And the needyof mankindwill rejoicein the HolyOneof Israel.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
[This is] a plain indicationof God'srighteousjudgmentsothat you will be considered worthyof the kingdomof God,for whichindeedyou are suffering.
You alsobecameimitatorsof us and of the Lord,having receivedthe wordin muchtribulationwith the joyof the HolySpirit,
that in a greatordealof afflictiontheir abundanceof joyand their deeppovertyoverflowedin the wealthof their liberality.
strengtheningthe soulsof the disciples,encouragingthem to continuein the faith,and [saying], "Throughmanytribulationswe mustenterthe kingdomof God."
When oneof thosewho were reclining[at the table] with Him heardthis,he saidto Him, "Blessedis everyone whowill eatbreadin the kingdomof God!"
"In that placetherewill be weepingand gnashingof teethwhenyou seeAbrahamand Isaacand Jacoband allthe prophetsin the kingdomof God,but yourselvesbeing thrownout.
"THE SPIRITOF THE LORDIS UPON ME, BECAUSEHE ANOINTEDME TO PREACH THE GOSPELTO THE POOR.HE HAS SENTME TO PROCLAIMRELEASETO THE CAPTIVES,AND RECOVERY OF SIGHTTO THE BLIND,TO SETFREETHOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
[the] BLINDRECEIVE SIGHTand [the] lamewalk,[the] lepersare cleansedand [the] deafhear,[the] deadare raisedup, and [the] POORHAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHEDTO THEM.
So it was brokenon that day,and thusthe afflictedof the flockwho were watchingme realizedthat it was the wordof the LORD.
"For My handmadeallthesethings,Thus allthesethingscameinto being,"declaresthe LORD."But to thisoneI will look,To him whois humbleand contriteof spirit,and whotremblesat My word.
Betteris a poorman who walksin his integrityThanhe whois perversein speechand is a fool.
It is betterto be humblein spiritwith the lowlyThanto dividethe spoilwith the proud.
"He raisesthe poorfrom the dust,He liftsthe needyfrom the ashheapTo make them sitwith nobles,And inherita seatof honor;For the pillarsof the earthare the LORD'S,And He setthe worldon them.
"But Abrahamsaid,'Child,rememberthat duringyour lifeyou receivedyour good things,and likewiseLazarusbad things;but nowhe is being comfortedhere,and you are in agony.
Betteris the littleof the righteousThanthe abundanceof manywicked.
When Jesus sawthe crowds,He wentup on the mountain;and after He sat down,His disciplescameto Him.
