In illa tempore accesserunt discipuli ad Iesum dicentes: Quis putas maior est in regno coelorum? Et advocans Iesus parvulum, statuit eum in medio eorum, et dixit: Amen dico vobis: nisi conversi fueritis, et efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum coelorum. Quicumque ergo humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste, hic est maior in regno coelorum. Et qui susceperit unum parvulum talem in nomine meo, me suscipit.
Qui autem scandalizaverit unum de pusillis istis, qui in me credunt, expedit ei, ut suspendatur mola asinaria in collo eius, et demergatur in profundum maris. Vae mundo a scandalis. Necesse est enim ut veniant scandala; verumtamen vae homini illi, per quem scandalum venit.
Si autem manus tua, vel pes tuus scandalizat te, abscide eum, et proice abs te: bonum tibi est ad vitam ingredi debilem vel claudum, quam duas manus, vel duos pedes habentem mitti in ignem aeternum. Et si oculus tuus scandalizat te, erue eum, et proice abs te: bonum tibi est cum uno oculo in vitam intrare, quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis.
Videte ne contemnatis unum ex his pusillis; dico enim vobis quia angeli eorum in caelis semper vident faciem Patris mei, qui in coelis est.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.
“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:1–10 (NRSV)