耶穌對他說：「法律上記載了什麼？你是怎樣讀的？」

他答說：「你應當全心、全靈、全力、全意愛上主、你的天主；並愛近人如你自己。」

耶穌向他說：「你答得對。你這樣做，必得生活。」

但是，那法學士為顯示自己有理，又對耶穌說：「誰是我的近人呢？」

耶穌回答說：「有一個人從耶路撒冷下來，到耶里哥去，遭遇了強盜；他們剝去他的衣服，把他打的半死，就丟下他走了。正巧，有一個司祭從那條路上下來，看了看他，便從旁邊走過。又有一個肋未人，也是一樣；他到了那裡，看了看，也從旁邊走過。

「但有一個撒瑪黎雅人，路過他那裡，一看見，就動了憐憫的心，於是上前，在他的傷處，注上油與酒，包紮好了，又扶他騎上自己的牲口，把他帶到客店裡，小心照料他。第二天，取出兩個銀錢，交給店主說：請你小心看護他！不論額外花費多少，等我回來時，必要還給你。

「你以為這三個人中，誰是那遭遇強盜者的近人呢？」

那法學士答說：「是憐憫他的那人。」

耶穌於是給他說：「你去，也照樣做吧！」

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”