And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know {them}, because they are spiritually discerned.

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.

From that {time} many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard {this}, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Wherefore? Because {they sought it} not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed {is} the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, {even to them} which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

ALEPH. Blessed {are} the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. {undefiled: or, perfect, or, sincere}

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Blessed {is} the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {ungodly: or, wicked}

[{A Psalm} of David, Maschil.] Blessed {is he whose} transgression {is} forgiven, {whose} sin {is} covered. {A Psalm...: or, A Psalm of David giving instruction}

Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this {child} is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Blessed {are} the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin}

Blessed {are} the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. {offended: scandalized in, or, by him}

And blessed is {he}, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. {offended: or, stumbled, or, caused to fall into sin}

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

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.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard {this}, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? {offend: or, scandalize, or, cause you to stumble}

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. {offended: scandalized or, made to stumble}

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast {it} from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not {that} thy whole body should be cast into hell.