1 A nd it came to pass, as the crowd pressed on him to hear 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 ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen, having come down from them, 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 getting into one of the ships, which was Simon's, he asked him to draw out a little from the land; and he sat down and taught the crowds out of the ship.

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 B ut when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Draw out into the deep and let down your nets for a haul.

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 answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net.

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 having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net broke.

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

7 A nd they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking.

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, seeing it, fell at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, 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 astonishment had laid hold on him, and on all those who were with him, at the haul of fishes which they had taken;

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

10 a nd in like manner also on James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt be catching 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 having run the ships on shore, leaving all they 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 as he was in one of the cities, that behold, there was a man full of leprosy, and seeing Jesus, falling upon his face, he besought him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou art able to cleanse me.

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 stretching forth his hand he touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed: and immediately 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 enjoined him to tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing as Moses ordained, for a testimony to 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 the report concerning him was spread abroad still more, and great crowds came together to hear, and to be healed from 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 A nd he withdrew himself, and was about in the desert and praying.

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 the 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 Lord's power was to heal them.

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 lo, men bringing upon a couch a man who was paralysed; and they sought to bring him in, and put 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 what way to bring him in, on account of the crowd, going up on the housetop they let him down through the tiles, with his little 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 who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to 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, knowing their reasonings, answering said to 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, Rise up 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 has power on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralysed man, I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy little couch and go to thine 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 standing up before them, having taken up that whereon he was laid, he 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 astonishment seized all, and they glorified God, and 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 saw a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the receipt of taxes, and said to 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 having left all, rising up, he followed him.

Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus.

29 A nd Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and others who were at table 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 their scribes and the Pharisees murmured at his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with tax-gatherers 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 to them, They that are in sound health have not need of a physician, but those that are ill.

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 righteous, but sinful 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 to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make supplications, in like manner those also 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 he said to them, Can ye make the sons of the bridechamber fast when 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 days will come when also the bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then shall 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 spoke also a parable to them: No one puts a piece of a new garment upon an old garment, otherwise he will both rend the new, and the piece which is from the new will not suit 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 one puts new wine into old skins, otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed;

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 is to be put into new skins, and both are preserved.

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

39 A nd no one having drunk old wine wishes for new, for he says, The old is better.

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