Mark 7
1 And there assembled together unto him the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem.
One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
2 And when they had seen some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.
They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands ‘defiled,’ by which they meant unwashed.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews eat not without often washing their hands, holding the tradition of the ancients:
(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.
4 And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots, and of brazen vessels, and of beds.
When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).
5 And the Pharisees and scribes asked him: Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but they eat bread with common hands?
So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question — “How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?”
6 But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
His answer was: “It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words — ‘This is a people that honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me;
7 And in vain to they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.
but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.’
8 For leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pots and of cups: and many other things you do like to these.
You neglect God’s commandments and hold to the traditions of men.
9 And he said to them: Well do you make void the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.
Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,” he exclaimed, “to keep your own traditions!
10 For Moses said: Honour thy father and thy mother; and He that shall curse father or mother, dying let him die.
For while Moses said ‘Honour thy father and thy mother,’ and ‘Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,’
11 But you say: If a man shall say to his father or mother, Corban, (which is a gift, ) whatsoever is from me, shall profit thee.
you say ‘If a man says to his father or mother “Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban”’ (which means ‘Given to God’) —
12 And further you suffer him not to do any thing for his father or mother,
why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother!
13 Making void the word of God by your own tradition, which you have given forth. And many other such like things you do.
In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.”
14 And calling again the multitude unto him, he said to them: Hear ye me all, and understand.
Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: “Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words.
15 There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.
There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can ‘defile’ him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him.”
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was come into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked him the parable.
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 And he saith to them: So are you also without knowledge? understand you not that every thing from without, entering into a man cannot defile him:
“What, do even you understand so little?” exclaimed Jesus. “Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can ‘defile’ him,
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but goeth into the belly, and goeth out into the privy, purging all meats?
because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of? — in saying this Jesus pronounced all food ‘clean.’
20 But he said that the things which come out from a man, they defile a man.
“It is what comes out from a man,” he added, “that defiles him,
21 For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
for it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts — unchastity, theft, murder, adultery,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.
all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man.”
24 And rising from thence he went into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon: and entering into a house, he would that no man should know it, and he could not be hid.
On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.
25 For a woman as soon as she heard of him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, came in and fell down at his feet.
For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet —
26 For the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophenician born. And she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
the woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia — and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 Who said to her: Suffer first the children to be filled: for it is not good to take the bread of the children, and cast it to the dogs.
“Let the children be satisfied first,” answered Jesus. “For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.”
28 But she answered and said to him: Yea, Lord; for the whelps also eat under the table of the crumbs of the children.
“Yes, Master,” she replied; “even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.”
29 And he said to her: For this saying go thy way, the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
“For saying that,” he answered, “you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 And when she was come into her house, she found the girl lying upon the bed, and that the devil was gone out.
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns.
32 And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva.
34 And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.
Then, looking up to Heaven, he sighed, and said to the man: “Ephphatha!” which means ‘Be opened.’
35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.
The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.
Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
37 And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
and a profound impression was made upon the people. “He has done everything well!” they exclaimed. “He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!”
