Matthew, 9

1. He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town.

1. He got back in the boat, crossed the water and came to his home town.

2. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

2. And suddenly some people brought him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Take comfort, my child, your sins are forgiven.'

3. At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."

3. And now some scribes said to themselves, 'This man is being blasphemous.'

4. Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

4. Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, 'Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts?

5. Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

5. Now, which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"?

6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

6. But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' -- then he said to the paralytic-'get up, pick up your bed and go off home.'

7. He rose and went home.

7. And the man got up and went home.

8. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.

8. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for having given such authority to human beings.

9. As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

9. As Jesus was walking on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him.

10. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

10. Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples.

11. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

11. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?'

12. He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

12. When he heard this he replied, 'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

13. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

13. Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinners.'

14. Then the disciples of John approached him and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast (much), but your disciples do not fast?"

14. Then John's disciples came to him and said, 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?'

15. Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

15. Jesus replied, 'Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.

16. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.

17. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."

17. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'

18. came forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."

18. While he was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials came up, who bowed low in front of him and said, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.'

19. Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.

19. Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him.

20. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.

20. Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak,

21. She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."

21. for she was thinking, 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.'

22. Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured.

22. Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.' And from that moment the woman was saved.

23. When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,

23. When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion, he said,

24. he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping." And they ridiculed him.

24. 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' And they ridiculed him.

25. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.

25. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up.

26. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

26. And the news of this spread all round the countryside.

27. have pity on us!"

27. As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, 'Take pity on us, son of David.'

28. When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him.

28. And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, 'Do you believe I can do this?' They said, 'Lord, we do.'

29. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith."

29. Then he touched their eyes saying, 'According to your faith, let it be done to you.'

30. And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."

30. And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, 'Take care that no one learns about this.'

31. But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

31. But when they had gone away, they talked about him all over the countryside.

32. As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him,

32. They had only just left when suddenly a man was brought to him, a dumb demoniac.

33. and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

33. And when the devil was driven out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'

34. But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."

34. But the Pharisees said, 'It is through the prince of devils that he drives out devils.'

35. Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.

35. Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.

36. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

36. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

37. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

37. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'