But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High.17 Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.18 And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for the revenge of his enemies.19 He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true judgment instead of a helmet.20 He will take equity for an invincible shield:
In all these things, it is clearly seen what a certain wise man testifies about the Lord, saying: and creation shall fight with him against the foolish (Wis. 5:20). Indeed, the world fights with the Lord against the senseless when, in the punishment of sinners, the adversity of the elements takes part. Yet pain does not come forth from the earth, because every insensible thing is stirred to our affliction by the impulse of our own actions.
And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,18 Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured.19 And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.†21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.
But when the celestial kingdom is considered in the many gradations of its blessings, the first step in the scale belongs to those who by divine instinct embrace poverty. Such did He make those who first became His disciples; therefore He says in their person, For yours is the kingdom of heaven, as pointedly addressing Himself to those present, upon whom also He lifted up His eyes.
He then fortifies His disciples against the attacks of their adversaries, which they were about to suffer as they preached through the whole world; adding, For in like manner did their fathers to the prophets.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)