The Beatitudes in Latin — Text, Translation & Meaning (Matthew 5)
The Beatitudes in Latin open the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12) — the eight blessings that begin “Beati pauperes spiritu” (“Blessed are the poor in spirit”). They are among the most beloved words of the Gospel, here in the Latin of the Vulgate.
On this page you will find the full Latin text, a line-by-line English translation, the meaning, the origin and a pronunciation note:
- the full Latin text of the Beatitudes
- the English translation, line by line
- meaning, origin (the Vulgate) and pronunciation
If you want not only to read the Beatitudes but also to understand and translate the Latin, you will find them as a graded reading in the Lapicida app — opened up word by word.
How do the Beatitudes go in Latin?
The Beatitudes begin “Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum” — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” They are the eight blessings that open Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.
The Beatitudes — Latin text with a line-by-line translation
Here are the Beatitudes in the Latin of the Vulgate (Latin on the left, English on the right):
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum. | Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
| Beati mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram. | Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. |
| Beati, qui lugent, quoniam ipsi consolabuntur. | Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. |
| Beati, qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam, quoniam ipsi saturabuntur. | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled. |
| Beati misericordes, quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur. | Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. |
| Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt. | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. |
| Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. |
| Beati, qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum. | Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
| Beati estis cum maledixerint vobis et persecuti vos fuerint et dixerint omne malum adversum vos, mentientes, propter me. | Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and speak all evil against you, falsely, for my sake. |
| Gaudete et exsultate, quoniam merces vestra copiosa est in caelis. | Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. |
| Sic enim persecuti sunt prophetas, qui fuerunt ante vos. | For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. |
Grammar note for learners: each blessing follows the same pattern — Beati (“blessed”) + a group, then quoniam (“for, because”) + a promise in the future passive (consolabuntur “they shall be comforted,” saturabuntur “they shall be filled”). The verb “are” is understood: Beati [sunt]…
Meaning: the eight blessings
The Beatitudes turn the world’s values upside down: the poor, the mourning, the meek and the persecuted are called beati — blessed, truly happy — because of what God promises them. They open the Sermon on the Mount and set out the heart of Jesus’ teaching. The Latin beatus means both “blessed” and “happy.”
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
How you read it in the app — word by word
In the Lapicida app the Beatitudes are set up as a graded reading: the full Latin text opened up word by word — with vocabulary help, form analysis and translation. Open the reading in the app.
Origin and pronunciation
The Beatitudes stand at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:3–12. This Latin text is the Vulgate of Saint Jerome (around AD 400), the Bible of the Western Church for over a thousand years.
Pronunciation (Church Latin): Beati = “beh-AH-tee”; caelorum = “cheh-LOH-room” (c before ae is “ch”); iustitiam = “yoo-STEE-tsee-am.”
The Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount, where the Pater Noster also stands (Matthew 6). See also the Vulgate, the Latin Bible.
Frequently asked — the Beatitudes in Latin
What are the Beatitudes in Latin?
They are the eight blessings that open the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), beginning ‘Beati pauperes spiritu’ — ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’. This Latin text is from the Vulgate.
What does Beati mean?
Beati is the plural of beatus, which means both ‘blessed’ and ‘happy’. ‘Beati pauperes spiritu’ means ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’.
How many Beatitudes are there?
Traditionally eight (Matthew 5:3-10), with a ninth, longer blessing on the persecuted (5:11-12). All are on this page in Latin and English.
Where do the Beatitudes come from?
From the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5. The Latin is the Vulgate of Saint Jerome (around AD 400).
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
