Year A: First Sunday of Lent: Gospel

From the Lectionary
Gospel Reading
Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”

He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” 

At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Compare: New American Bible (1970)

Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread.” Jesus replied, “Scripture has it: ‘Not on bread alone is man to live, but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Next the devil took him to the holy city, set him on the parapet of the temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. Scripture has it:  ‘He will bid his angels take care of you; with their hands they will support you that you may never stumble on a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “Scripture also has it: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

The devil then took him up a very high mountain and displayed before him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, promising, “All these I will bestow on you if you prostrate yourself in homage before me.” At this Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan!” Scripture has it:

‘You shall do homage to the Lord your God; him alone shall you adore.’”

At that the devil left him, and angels came and waited on him.

Compare: Jerusalem Bible (1966)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.” But he replied, “Scripture says, ‘Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 

The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. “If you are the Son of God” he said “throw yourself down; for scripture says:  ‘He will put you in his angels’ charge,
and they will support you on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Scripture also says: ‘You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “I will give you all of these” he said “if you fall at my feet and worship me.” Then Jesus replied, “Be off, Satan! For scripture says: ‘You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’”

Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

Compare: New English Bible (1970)

Jesus was then led away by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and nights he fasted, and at the end of them he was famished. The tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘Man cannot live on bread alone; he lives on every word that God utters.’”

The devil then took him to the Holy City and set him on the parapet of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down; for Scripture says, “He will put his angels in charge of you, and they will support you in their arms, for fear you should strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “Scripture says again, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Once again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their glory. “All these,” he said, “I will give you, if you will only fall down and do me homage.” But Jesus said, “Begone, Satan! Scripture says, ‘You shall do homage to the Lord your God and worship him alone.’”

Then the devil left him; and angels appeared and waited on him.

Compare: Knox Bible (1955)

And now Jesus was led by the Spirit away into the wilderness, to be tempted there by the devil. Forty days and forty nights he spent fasting, and at the end of them was hungry. Then the tempter approached, and said to him, “If thou art the Son of God, bid these stones turn into loaves of bread.” He answered, “It is written, “Man cannot live by bread only; there is life for him in all the words which proceed from the mouth of God.”

Next, the devil took him into the holy city, and there set him down on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down to earth; for it is written, ‘He has given charge to his angels concerning thee, and they will hold thee up with their hands, lest thou shouldst chance to trip upon a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “But it is further written, ‘Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the proof.’”

Once more, the devil took him to the top of an exceeding high mountain, from which he shewed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said, “I will give you all these if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with thee, Satan; it is written, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and serve none but him.

Then the devil left him alone; and thereupon angels came and ministered to him.

Compare: An American Translation (1939)

Then Jesus was guided by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and nights, and after it he was famished. And the tempter came up and said to him, “If you are God’s son, tell these stones to turn into bread!”

But he answered, “The Scripture says, ‘Not on bread alone is man to live, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God!’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the summit of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God’s son, throw yourself down, for the Scripture says, ‘He will give his angels orders about you, And they will lift you up with their hands So that you may never strike your foot against a stone!’”

Jesus said to him, “The Scripture also says, ‘You shall not try the Lord your God.’”

Again the devil took him to a very high mountain, and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will fall on your knees and do homage to me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For the Scripture says, ‘You must do homage to the Lord your God, and worship him alone!’”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and waited on him.  

Compare: The Living Bible (1971)

Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. “It will prove you are the Son of God,” he said. But Jesus told him, “No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need.”

Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. “Jump off,” he said, “and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, ‘God will send his angels to keep you from harm’ ... ‘they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below.’”

Jesus retorted, “It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!”

Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. “I’ll give it all to you,” he said, “if you will only kneel and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “The Scriptures say, ‘Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.’”

Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.

Compare: King James Version (1611)

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, ‘He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said unto him, “It is written again, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’” 

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Then saith Jesus unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.’” 

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Compare: Douay-Rheims Bible (1610)

Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: “It is written, ‘Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: ‘That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him: “It is written again: ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”

Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to him: “All these I will give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.” Then Jesus saith to him: “Begone, Satan: For it us written, ‘The Lord thy God thou shalt adore, and him only shalt thou serve.’”

Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.

Compare: New Catholic Bible (2019)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was famished. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to be transformed into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered, “As it is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” 

Next the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the summit of the temple. Then he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and with their hands they will raise you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “It is also written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Finally, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor. Then he said to him, “All these will I give you if you kneel down and worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Depart from me, Satan! It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve.’”

Then the devil departed from him, and suddenly angels came and ministered to him.

Compare: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (2006)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.