5:28a

But I tell you: The clause But I tell you also occurs in 5:22a. Translate it here as you did there.

anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translate as looks at a woman to lust after her refer to looking steadily on a woman and wanting to have sexual relations with her. It is also implied that the woman is not his wife.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

whoever looks at a woman and desires her (God’s Word)
-or-
anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her (Good News Translation)
-or-
if you look at another woman and want her (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
anyone who stares at a woman ⌊who is not his wife⌋ and wants to have sex with her

The term or expression you use should be polite enough for reading aloud to a group of men and women.

5:28b

has already committed adultery with her in his heart: This clause indicates that even though the man only desired to commit the sexual sin, it is just as if he had actually done it.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

he has already had sexual relations with her in his heart
-or-
in his heart, he has already committed the sin of sleeping with her

in his heart: The word heart here refers to one’s inner life. It indicates the essential person, where one’s thoughts and motives occur.

For the word heart, use a term that is normally used in your language for “inner life.” It may be a different organ such as “liver” or “throat.” Or it may be a more general term such as “insides” or “spirit.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in your thoughts (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

in his mind (New Century Version)

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