Matthew 26

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Then, after Jesus finished saying everything, he told his followers,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

You know that in two days there will be a Passover feast, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to be executed.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

The top religious leaders, including the priests, scribes, and elders, gathered at High Priest Caiaphas' palace.

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

They planned to trick Jesus and kill him secretly.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

But they said, Not on the holiday, so as not to cause a disturbance among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

Now, when Jesus was at Bethany, in Simon the leper's home,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

A woman with a valuable ointment container approached him and poured the ointment on his head while he was eating.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

But when Jesus' students saw this, they were angry, asking, What is the point of all this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

This oil could have been sold for a lot and the money used to help the needy.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

When Jesus understood, he told them, "Why are you bothering the woman? She has done something good for me."

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

You always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Because she put this oil on my body, she did it for my funeral.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

I truly tell you: wherever this good news is shared around the world, people will remember what this woman did.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

Then, one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the top priests.

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

He asked them, "What can I get in return for handing him over to you?" They agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Starting from then, he looked for a chance to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

On the first day of the no-yeast festival, Jesus' followers asked him, "Where do you want us to get everything ready for you to have the special Passover meal?"

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

He said, "Go to that person in the city and tell him, 'The Master says, I'm coming soon. I will have the Passover meal with you and my followers.'"

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

And the disciples followed Jesus' instructions; they prepared the special meal called Passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

Now that evening came, he sat down to eat with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

As they were eating, Jesus told them, "I truly say, one of you will betray me."

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

They were very sad and each one asked him, "Lord, is it me?"

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

He replied, "The one who shares my plate will also betray me."

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

The Son of Man will fulfill what is written about Him, but woe to the person who betrays Him. It would have been better if that person hadn't been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Then Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, asked, "Is it me, Master?" Jesus replied, "Yes, it is you."

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, said a prayer over it, broke it into pieces, and handed it to his followers. He told them, "Take and eat this. This is my body."

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

He picked up the cup, said a prayer, then handed it to them, telling them to drink the whole thing.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

This is my special blood that flows for many people to forgive their wrongdoings.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

But I tell you, I won't drink from this grape juice again before the day when I drink it freshly with you in my Father's kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

After singing a song, they left for the Mount of Olives.

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Then Jesus tells them, Everyone will be disappointed in me tonight, because it says in the scriptures that they will scatter when the shepherd is struck.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

But once I rise again, I'll go ahead of you to Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Peter replied, "Even if everyone is upset with you, I won't be offended."

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Jesus told him, "I truly say, tonight before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Peter told him, "Even if I die with you, I won't deny you." The other disciples agreed too.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Then Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus told his followers to wait there while he went to pray elsewhere.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

He brought Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him and started feeling very sad and burdened.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Then he tells them, I am very sad, almost to the point of death. Please stay here and keep watch with me.

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

He walked a bit more, then fell on his face and prayed, "Dear Father, if I can, please let this difficult time go away from me; but not my way, but yours."

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping. He asks Peter, "Why couldn't you stay awake with me for an hour?"

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Stay alert and pray so you don't fall into temptation; even though our desire to do good is strong, our physical selves can be weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

He left a second time and prayed, "Father, if I can't avoid this cup unless I drink it, then your will should happen."

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

He arrived and saw them sleeping once more, because their eyes were very tired.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

He went away, then returned, and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Then he goes to his followers and tells them to sleep and relax because the time has come, and the Man's Son is given to bad people.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Get up, let's go; the one who will betray me is nearby.

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

While Jesus was still talking, suddenly Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a large group. They had swords and sticks and were led by the high priests and leaders of the people.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

The one who betrayed Him signaled them, saying, "Whoever I kiss is the one; grab him tightly."

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Right away, he went to Jesus and said, "Hello, my teacher," before giving him a kiss.

And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Jesus asked the man, "Why are you here?" Then, they approached, grabbed Jesus, and took him away.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

And suddenly, one of those with Jesus reached out, pulled out his sword, and cut off the servant's ear belonging to the high priest.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Then Jesus told him, Put your sword away and put it back where it belongs, because anyone who uses a sword will end up being killed by one.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Do you think I can't pray to my Father right now, and He will soon send me more than 12 groups of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

But how can the writings come true then, if this is how it has to happen?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

In that very moment, Jesus asked the crowd, "Why have you come against me with swords and sticks like you would catch a thief? I used to sit and teach in the temple every day, but you never tried to arrest me before."

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

This happened to fulfill the prophets' writings. Afterward, all the followers left Jesus and ran away.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

They who grabbed Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the writers and older people were gathered.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

But Peter stayed far away and went into the high priest's home, sitting with the workers to witness what would happen.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

The leaders, along with the older people, tried to find someone to lie about Jesus so they could kill him.

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

But they didn't find anyone: yes, lots of people lied, but they still didn't find anyone. In the end, two people who weren't telling the truth showed up.

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

He said that someone claimed they could demolish God's temple and rebuild it within three days.

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

The high priest stood up and asked him, "Don't you answer anything? What do the witnesses say about you?"

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

But Jesus stayed quiet. Then the high priest asked him, "I swear by God who is alive, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Jesus tells him, "You said that, but I'm telling you, after this you will see the Son of Man seated at God's side with great power, and returning to earth from the sky.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken against God; why do we need more witnesses? You just heard him speak against God."

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

"What do you think?" they asked, and they replied, "He deserves to die."

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Then they spat in his face and hit him; and others slapped him with their hands.

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

"Asking, Predict to us, you Christ, Who hurt you?"

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Now, Peter waited outside the palace, and a girl approached him, asking, "You were also with Jesus from Galilee."

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

But he said to everyone, "I don't know what you're talking about."

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

When he left the porch, a servant saw him and told those there that he was with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And once more, he swore that he didn't recognize the person.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

After some time, those nearby approached Peter and said, "You are definitely one of them too. Your speech gives you away."

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Then he started cursing and swearing, saying, "I don't know the man." And right away, a rooster crowed.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Peter recalled Jesus' words, telling him that he would deny Jesus before a rooster crows three times. So, Peter left and cried very sadly.