1 I n quel tempo Erode, il tetrarca, udí della fama di Gesú,

At that time Herod the governor heard the reports about Jesus,

2 e disse ai suoi servi: «Costui è Giovanni Battista; egli è risuscitato dai morti e perciò le potenze soprannaturali operano in lui».

And he said to his attendants, This is John the Baptist; He has been raised from the dead, and that is why the powers of performing miracles are at work in Him.

3 E rode infatti, aveva arrestato Giovanni, lo aveva incatenato e messo in prigione, a causa di Erodiade, moglie di suo fratello Filippo.

For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison '> stow him out of the way] on account and for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

4 P erché Giovanni gli diceva: «Non ti è lecito di convivere con lei!».

For John had said to him, It is not lawful or right for you to have her.

5 E , pur volendo farlo morire, egli temeva il popolo, che lo riteneva un profeta.

Although he wished to have him put to death, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.

6 O ra, mentre si celebrava il compleanno di Erode, la figlia di Erodiade danzò in sua presenza e piacque a Erode,

But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased and fascinated Herod,

7 t anto che egli le promise con giuramento di darle tutto ciò che gli avesse chiesto.

And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 E d ella, istigata da sua madre, disse: «Dammi qui, su un piatto, la testa di Giovanni Battista».

And she, being put forward and prompted by her mother, said, Give me the head of John the Baptist right here on a platter.

9 I l re ne fu contristato, ma a causa del giuramento e per riguardo degli invitati che erano con lui a tavola, comandò che le fosse data.

And the king was distressed and sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered it to be given her;

10 C osí mandò a far decapitare Giovanni Battista in prigione;

He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

11 e la sua testa fu portata su un piatto e data alla fanciulla; ed ella la portò a sua madre.

And his head was brought in on a platter and given to the little maid, and she brought it to her mother.

12 P oi vennero i suoi discepoli, presero il corpo e lo seppellirono; in seguito essi andarono a riferire l'accaduto a Gesú.

And John’s disciples came and took up the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13 Q uando Gesú ebbe udito ciò, partí di là su una barca e si ritirò in disparte, in un luogo deserto. E le folle, saputolo, lo seguirono a piedi dalle città.

When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him on foot from the towns.

14 E Gesú, smontato dalla barca, vide una grande folla e ne ebbe compassione, e ne guarí gli infermi.

When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick.

15 P oi, facendosi sera, i suoi discepoli gli si accostarono, e gli dissero: «Questo luogo è deserto, ed è già tardi; licenzia dunque le folle affinché vadano per i villaggi a comprarsi da mangiare».

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves.

16 M a Gesú disse loro: «Non è necessario che se ne vadano, date voi a loro da mangiare».

Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.

17 E d essi gli dissero: «Noi non abbiamo qui altro che cinque pani e due pesci».

They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.

18 E d egli disse: «Portatemeli qua».

He said, Bring them here to Me.

19 C omandò quindi che le folle si sedessero sull'erba; poi prese i cinque pani e i due pesci e, alzati gli occhi al cielo, li benedisse; spezzò i pani e li diede ai discepoli e i discepoli, alle folle.

Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

20 E tutti mangiarono e furono saziati poi i discepoli raccolsero i pezzi avanzati in dodici ceste piene.

And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve '> small hand] baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21 O ra, coloro che avevano mangiato erano circa cinquemila uomini, senza contare le donne e i bambini.

And those who ate were about 5, 000 men, not including women and children.

22 S ubito dopo Gesú costrinse i suoi discepoli a salire sulla barca e a precederlo all'altra riva, mentre egli licenziava le folle.

Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds.

23 D opo averle congedate, salí sul monte in disparte per pregare. E, fattosi sera, era là tutto solo.

And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.

24 L a barca intanto si trovava al largo, in mezzo al mare, ed era sbattuta dalle onde perché il vento era contrario.

But the boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs distant from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.

25 A lla quarta vigilia, della notte, Gesú andò verso di loro, camminando sul mare.

And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

26 I discepoli, vedendolo camminare sul mare, si turbarono e dissero: «è un fantasma!». E si misero a gridare dalla paura;

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright.

27 m a subito Gesú parlò loro, dicendo: «Rassicuratevi; sono io, non temete!».

But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid!

28 E Pietro, rispondendogli disse: «Signore, se sei tu, comandami di venire da te sulle acque».

And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.

29 E gli disse: «Vieni!» E Pietro, sceso dalla barca, camminò sulle acque, per venire da Gesú.

He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.

30 M a, vedendo il vento forte, ebbe paura e, cominciando ad affondare, gridò dicendo: «Signore, salvami!».

But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me!

31 E subito Gesú stese la mano, lo prese e gli disse: «O uomo di poca fede, perché hai dubitato?».

Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

32 P oi, quando salirono in barca, il vento si acquetò.

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 A llora quelli che erano nella barca vennero e l'adorarono, dicendo: «Veramente tu sei il Figlio di Dio!».

And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God!

34 P oi, essendo passati all'altra riva, vennero nella regione di Gennesaret.

And when they had crossed over to the other side, they went ashore at Gennesaret.

35 E gli uomini di quel luogo, avendolo riconosciuto, diffusero la notizia per tutta la regione circostante; e gli presentarono tutti i malati;

And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent around into all the surrounding country and brought to Him all who were sick

36 e lo pregarono che potessero toccare almeno il lembo della sua veste, e tutti quelli che lo toccarono furono perfettamente guariti.

And begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored.