Matthew, 9

1. And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

1. Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown.

2. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

2. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."

3. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This [man] blasphemeth.

3. Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, "This man insults God."

4. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

4. Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, "Why have you such evil thoughts?

5. For whether is easier, to say, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

5. Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?

6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

6. You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home."

7. And he arose, and departed to his house.

7. The man got up, and went home.

8. But when the multitudes saw [it], they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

8. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

9. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

9. As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew got up and followed him.

10. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

10. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples.

11. And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

11. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?"

12. But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

12. When Jesus heard this he said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do.

13. But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

13. Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

14. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

14. Then the disciples of John came to him with the question, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?"

15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

15. Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast.

16. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

16. No one patches an old coat with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole in the coat.

17. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

17. Besides you don't put new wine in old wineskins. If you do, the wineskins will burst and the wine be spilt. No, you put new wine in fresh skins; then both are preserved."

18. While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

18. While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, "My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live."

19. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.

19. Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

20. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment:

20. Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak.

21. For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

21. For she thought, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

22. Jesus turned, saw her and said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you." And from that moment the woman was cured.

23. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

23. When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said,

24. He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

24. "Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!" And they laughed at him.

25. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

25. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up.

26. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

26. The news of this spread through the whole area.

27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on us.

27. As Jesus moved on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Son of David, help us!"

28. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

28. When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?" They answered, "Yes, sir!"

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

29. Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "As you have believed, so let it be."

30. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See [that] no man know [it].

30. And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, "Be careful and let no one know about this."

31. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

31. But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

32. As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

32. When they had just left, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon.

33. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

33. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." (

34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

34. But the Pharisees said, "He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.")

35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

35. Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease.

36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

36. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few;

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

38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

38. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest."