Mark, 1

1. The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2. It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you.

2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way;

3. A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

3. the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight -- "

4. John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4. John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.

5. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6. John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.

6. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.

7. In the course of his preaching he said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals.

7. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

8. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'

8. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9. It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John.

9. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10. And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him.

10. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove;

11. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.'

11. and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

12. And at once the Spirit drove him into the desert

12. The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

13. and he remained there for forty days, and was put to the test by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels looked after him.

13. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

14. After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying,

14. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,

15. 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.'

15. and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

16. As he was walking along by the Lake of Galilee he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the lake -- for they were fishermen.

16. And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

17. And Jesus said to them, 'Come after me and I will make you into fishers of people.'

17. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."

18. And at once they left their nets and followed him.

18. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

19. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending the nets.

19. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

20. At once he called them and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

20. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

21. They went as far as Capernaum, and at once on the Sabbath he went into the synagogue and began to teach.

21. And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

22. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

22. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

23. And at once in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted,

23. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;

24. 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.'

24. and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."

25. But Jesus rebuked it saying, 'Be quiet! Come out of him!'

25. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"

26. And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.

26. And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

27. The people were so astonished that they started asking one another what it all meant, saying, 'Here is a teaching that is new, and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.'

27. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."

28. And his reputation at once spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

28. And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

29. And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew.

29. And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her.

30. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her.

31. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them.

31. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.

32. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils.

32. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.

33. The whole town came crowding round the door,

33. And the whole city was gathered together about the door.

34. and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

34. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.

35. And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

36. Simon and his companions set out in search of him,

36. And Simon and those who were with him pursued him,

37. and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.'

37. and they found him and said to him, "Every one is searching for you."

38. He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.'

38. And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out."

39. And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.

39. And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40. A man suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to him and pleaded on his knees saying, 'If you are willing, you can cleanse me.'

40. And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."

41. Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.'

41. Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean."

42. And at once the skin-disease left him and he was cleansed.

42. And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

43. And at once Jesus sternly sent him away and said to him,

43. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once,

44. 'Mind you tell no one anything, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing prescribed by Moses as evidence to them.'

44. and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people."

45. The man went away, but then started freely proclaiming and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but stayed outside in deserted places. Even so, people from all around kept coming to him.

45. But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.