Matthew, 14

1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus

1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus;

2. and said to his court, 'This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.'

2. and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."

3. Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

3. For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife;

4. For John had told him, 'It is against the Law for you to have her.'

4. because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

5. He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

5. And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

6. Then, during the celebrations for Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and so delighted Herod

6. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod,

7. that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked.

7. so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8. Prompted by her mother she said, 'Give me John the Baptist's head, here, on a dish.'

8. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."

9. The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her,

9. And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given;

10. and sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

10. he sent and had John beheaded in the prison,

11. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

11. and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12. John's disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

12. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

13. When Jesus received this news he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot.

13. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

14. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

14. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

15. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.'

15. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

16. Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.'

16. Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."

17. But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.'

17. They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."

18. So he said, 'Bring them here to me.'

18. And he said, "Bring them here to me."

19. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.

19. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full.

20. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21. Now about five thousand men had eaten, to say nothing of women and children.

21. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

22. And at once he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he sent the crowds away.

22. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

23. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

23. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

24. while the boat, by now some furlongs from land, was hard pressed by rough waves, for there was a head-wind.

24. but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.

25. In the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea,

25. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

26. and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.

26. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.

27. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.'

27. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

28. It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said, 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.'

28. And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water."

29. Jesus said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water,

29. He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;

30. but then noticing the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord,' he cried, 'save me!'

30. but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."

31. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'You have so little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'

31. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32. And as they got into the boat the wind dropped.

32. And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'

33. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

34. Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

34. And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

35. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him,

35. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick,

36. begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were saved.

36. and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.