< Matthew 9 >

1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
Accordingly He went on board, and crossing over came to His own town.
2 Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned."
3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
"Such language is impious," said some of the Scribes among themselves.
4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts?
5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
Why, which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say 'Rise up and walk'?
6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
But, to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He then says to the paralytic, "Rise, and take up your bed and go home."
7 And the man got up and went home.
And he got up, and went off home.
8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose, and followed Him.
10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
And while He was reclining at table, a large number of tax-gathers and notorious sinners were of the party with Jesus and His disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
The Pharisees noticed this, and they inquired of His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
He heard the question and replied, "It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick.
13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
But go and learn what this means, 'It is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice'; for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners."
14 At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"
15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
"Can the bridegroom's party mourn," He replied, "as long as the bridegroom is with them? But other days will come (when the Bridegroom has been taken from them) and then they will fast.
16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.
No one ever mends an old cloak with a patch of newly woven cloth. Otherwise, the patch put on would tear away some of the old, and a worse hole would be made.
17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins would split, the wine would escape, and the skins be destroyed. But they put new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved."
18 While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
While He was thus speaking, a Ruler came up and profoundly bowing said, "My daughter is just dead; but come and put your hand upon her and she will return to life."
19 So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.
And Jesus rose and followed him, as did also His disciples.
20 Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
But a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with haemorrhage came behind Him and touched the tassel of His cloak;
21 She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
for she said to herself, "If I but touch His cloak, I shall be cured."
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.
And Jesus turned and saw her, and said, "Take courage, daughter; your faith has cured you." And the woman was restored to health from that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.
Entering the Ruler's house, Jesus saw the flute-players and the crowd loudly wailing,
24 “Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
and He said, "Go out of the room; the little girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at Him.
25 After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
When however the place was cleared of the crowd, Jesus went in, and on His taking the little girl by the hand, she rose up.
26 And the news about this spread throughout that region.
And the report of this spread throughout all that district.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
As Jesus passed on, two blind men followed Him, shouting and saying, "Pity us, Son of David."
28 After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
And when He had gone indoors, they came to Him. "Do you believe that I can do this?" He asked them. "Yes, Sir," they replied.
29 Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”
So He touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be to you."
30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”
Then their eyes were opened. And assuming a stern tone Jesus said to them, "Be careful to let no one know."
31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.
But they went out and published His fame in all that district.
32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
And as they were leaving His presence a dumb demoniac was brought to Him.
33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in astonishment, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
But the Pharisees maintained, "It is by the power of the Prince of the demons that he drives out the demons."
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
And Jesus continued His circuits through all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity.
36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
And when He saw the crowds He was touched with pity for them, because they were distressed and were fainting on the ground like sheep which have no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few;
38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
therefore entreat the Owner of the Harvest to send out reapers into His fields."

< Matthew 9 >