Matthew 12
1 At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat.
About that time Jesus passed on the Sabbath through the wheatfields; and His disciples became hungry, and began to gather ears of wheat and eat them.
2 And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days.
But the Pharisees saw it and said to Him, "Look! your disciples are doing what the Law forbids them to do on the Sabbath."
3 But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him:
"Have you never read," He replied, "what David did when he and his men were hungry?
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only?
how he entered the House of God and ate the Presented Loaves, which it was not lawful for him or his men to eat, nor for any except the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame?
And have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath without incurring guilt?
6 But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple.
But I tell you that there is here that which is greater than the Temple.
7 And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.
And if you knew what this means, 'It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned those who are without guilt.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.
For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath."
9 And when he has passed from thence, he came into their synagogues.
Departing thence He went to their synagogue,
10 And behold there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
where there was a man with a shrivelled arm. And they questioned Him, "Is it right to cure people on the Sabbath?" Their intention was to bring a charge against Him.
11 But he said to them: What man shall there be among you, that hath one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not take hold on it and lift it up?
"Which of you is there," He replied, "who, if he has but a single sheep and it falls into a hole on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much better is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do a good deed on the sabbath days.
Is not a man, however, far superior to a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath."
13 Then he saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand; and he stretched it forth, and it was restored to health even as the other.
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your arm." And he stretched it out, and it was restored quite sound like the other.
14 And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how they might destroy him.
But the Pharisees after leaving the synagogue consulted together against Him, how they might destroy Him.
15 But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all.
Aware of this, Jesus departed elsewhere; and a great number of people followed Him, all of whom He cured.
16 And he charged them that they should not make him known.
But He gave them strict injunctions not to blaze abroad His doings,
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying:
that those words of the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled,
18 Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
"This is My servant whom I have chosen, My dearly loved One in whom My soul takes pleasure. I will put My spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the nations.
19 He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
He will not wrangle or raise His voice, nor will His voice be heard in the broadways.
20 The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory.
A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles shall hope.
And on His name shall the nations rest their hopes."
22 Then was offered to him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb: and he healed him, so that he spoke and saw.
At that time a demoniac was brought to Him, blind and dumb; and He cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David?
And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24 But the Pharisees hearing it, said: This man casteth not out the devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
The Pharisees heard it and said, "This man only expels demons by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons."
25 And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
Knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation; and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low.
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how then shall his kingdom stand?
And if Satan is expelling Satan, he has begun to make war on himself: how therefore shall his kingdom last?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
And if it is by Baal-zebul's power that I expel the demons, by whose power do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
But if it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I expel the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can any one enter into the house of the strong, and rifle his goods, unless he first bind the strong? and then he will rifle his house.
Again, how can any one enter the house of a strong man and carry off his goods, unless first of all he masters and secures the strong man: then he will ransack his house.
30 He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
"The man who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.
31 Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
This is why I tell you that men may find forgiveness for every other sin and impious word, but that for impious speaking against the Holy Spirit they shall find no forgiveness.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come. (aiōn g165)
And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness." (aiōn g165)
33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known.
"Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
O vipers' brood, how can you speak what is good when you are evil? For it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
A good man from his good store produces good things, and a bad man from his bad store produces bad things.
36 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.
But I tell you that for every careless word that men shall speak they will be held accountable on the day of Judgement.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
For each of you by his words shall be justified, or by his words shall be condemned."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Master we would see a sign from thee.
Then He was accosted by some of the Scribes and of the Pharisees who said, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign given by you."
39 Who answering said to them: An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
"Wicked and faithless generation!" He replied, "they clamour for a sign, but none shall be given to them except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonas was in the whale’s belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
For just as Jonah was three days in the sea-monster's belly, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas. And behold a greater than Jonas here.
There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and mark! there is One greater than Jonah here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon here.
The Queen of the south will awake at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and mark! there is One greater than Solomon here.
43 And when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest, and findeth none.
"No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.
44 Then he saith: I will return into my house from whence I came out. And coming he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then he says, 'I will return to my house that I left;' and he comes and finds it unoccupied, swept clean, and in good order.
45 Then he goeth, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is made worse than the first. So shall it be also to this wicked generation.
Then he goes and brings back with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come in and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first. So will it be also with the present wicked generation."
46 As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.
While He was still addressing the people His mother and His brothers were standing on the edge of the crowd desiring to speak to Him.
47 And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee.
So some one told Him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and desire to speak to you."
48 But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?
"Who is my mother?" He said to the man; "and who are my brothers?"
49 And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren.
And pointing to His disciples He added, "See here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
To obey my Father who is in Heaven--that is to be my brother and my sister and my mother."
