1 A nd it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood 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 saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were 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 ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people 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 N ow when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch 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 answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless 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 when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

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

7 A nd they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, 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 W hen Simon Peter saw it, he 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 astonished, 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 was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which 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 ships to land, they forsook 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, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus 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 put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. 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 charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew 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 there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him 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 A nd he withdrew himself into the wilderness, 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 a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present 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, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means 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 when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling 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 when he saw their faith, he said unto him, 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 which 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 when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What 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 hether is easier, to say, Thy sins be 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 hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into 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 he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own 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 they were all amazed, 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 publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he 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 left all, rose up, and followed him.

Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus.

29 A nd Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down 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 B ut their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with 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 whole need not 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 came not 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, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise 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 he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber 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, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and 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 spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not 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 bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall 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 new bottles; and both are preserved.

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

39 N o man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

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