1 N ow it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;

While Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, many people pushed to get near Him. They wanted to hear the Word of God.

2 a nd he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen were not there because they were washing their nets.

3 A nd he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.

Jesus got into a boat which belonged to Simon. Jesus asked him to push it out a little way from land. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 A nd when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Push out into the deep water. Let down your nets for some fish.”

5 A nd Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

Simon said to Him, “Teacher, we have worked all night and we have caught nothing. But because You told me to, I will let the net down.”

6 A nd when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;

When they had done this, they caught so many fish, their net started to break.

7 a nd they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

They called to their friends working in the other boat to come and help them. They came and both boats were so full of fish they began to sink.

8 B ut Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

When Simon Peter saw it, he got down at the feet of Jesus. He said, “Go away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.”

9 F or he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;

He and all those with him were surprised and wondered about the many fish.

10 a nd so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were surprised also. They were working together with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for men.”

11 A nd when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.

When they came to land with their boats, they left everything and followed Jesus. Jesus Heals a Man with a Bad Skin Disease

12 A nd it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to Him with a bad skin disease over all his body. When he saw Jesus, he got down on his face before Him. He begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can heal me.”

13 A nd he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.

Jesus put His hand on him and said, “I will, be healed.” At once the disease went away from him.

14 A nd he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Then Jesus told him to tell no one. He said, “Go and let the religious leader of the Jews see you. Give the gift on the altar in worship that Moses told you to give when a man is healed of a disease. This will show the leaders you have been healed.”

15 B ut so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.

The news about Jesus went out all the more. Many people came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases.

16 B ut he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.

Then He went away by Himself to pray in a desert. Jesus Heals a Man Let Down through the Roof of a House

17 A nd it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them.

18 A nd behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was.

19 A nd not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus.

20 A nd seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 A nd the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers thought to themselves, “Who is this Man Who speaks as if He is God? Who can forgive sins but God only?”

22 B ut Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts?

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, “Why do you think this way in your hearts?

23 W hich is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’?

24 B ut that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.

“So that you may know the Son of Man has the right and the power on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the man who could not move his body, “I say to you, get up. Take your bed and go to your home.”

25 A nd immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.

At once the sick man got up in front of them. He took his bed and went to his home thanking God.

26 A nd amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

All those who were there were surprised and gave thanks to God, saying, “We have seen very special things today.” Jesus Calls Matthew

27 A nd after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.

After this Jesus went out and saw a man who gathered taxes. His name was Levi (Matthew). Levi was sitting at his work. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”

28 A nd he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.

Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus.

29 A nd Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.

Levi made a big supper for Jesus in his house. Many men who gathered taxes and other people sat down with them.

30 A nd the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers talked against the followers of Jesus. They said, “Why do You eat and drink with men who gather taxes and with sinners?”

31 A nd Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.

Jesus said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor.

32 I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

I have not come to call good people. I have come to call sinners to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them.” Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better

33 A nd they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.

They asked Jesus, “Why do the followers of John and of the proud religious law-keepers go without food so they can pray better, but Your followers keep on eating and drinking?”

34 A nd Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

Jesus answered them, “Can the friends at a wedding be sorry when the man just married is with them?

35 B ut the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.

The days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better in those days.” The Picture-Story of the Cloth and the Bags

36 A nd he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.

Then Jesus told them a picture-story. He said, “No one sews a piece of cloth from a new coat on an old coat. If he does, the new coat will have a hole. The new piece and the old coat will not be the same.

37 A nd no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.

No man puts new wine into old skin bags. If they did, the skins would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good.

38 B ut new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.

New wine must be put into new bags and both are kept safe.

39 A nd no man having drunk old wine desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.

No one wants new wine after drinking old wine. He says, ‘The old wine is better.’”