Matthew 12
1 At that time Iesus went on a Sabbath day through ye corne, and his disciples were an hungred, and bega to plucke ye eares of corne and to eate.
About the same time Jesus walked through the cornfields one Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some ears of wheat and eat them.
2 And when the Pharises sawe it, they saide vnto him, Beholde, thy disciples doe that which is not lawfull to doe vpon the Sabbath.
But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said, ‘Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!’
3 But he said vnto them, Haue ye not read what Dauid did when he was an hungred, and they that were with him?
‘Haven’t you read,’ replied Jesus, ‘what David did, when he and his companions were hungry –
4 Howe he entred into ye house of God, and did eate the shewe bread, which was not lawfull for him to eate, neither for them which were with him, but onely for the Priestes?
how he went into the house of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, through it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests?
5 Or haue ye not read in the Lawe, how that on the Sabbath dayes the Priestes in the Temple breake the Sabbath, and are blameles?
And haven’t you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priest in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?
6 But I say vnto you, that here is one greater then the Temple.
Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple!
7 Wherefore if ye knewe what this is, I will haue mercie, and not sacrifice, ye would not haue condemned the innocents.
Had you learned the meaning of the words – “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned those who are not guilty.
8 For the sonne of man is Lord, euen of the Sabbath.
For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.’
9 And he departed thence, and went into their Synagogue:
Passing on, Jesus went into their synagogue,
10 And beholde, there was a man which had his hand dried vp. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawfull to heale vpon a Sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
and there he saw a man with a withered hand. Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable to work a cure on the Sabbath – so that they might have a charge to bring against him.
11 And he said vnto the, What man shall there be among you, that hath a sheepe, and if it fal on a Sabbath day into a pit, doth not take it and lift it out?
But Jesus said to them, ‘Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out?
12 How much more then is a man better then a sheepe? therefore, it is lawfull to doe well on a Sabbath day.
How much more precious a person is than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath.’
13 Then said he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it foorth, and it was made whole as the other.
Then he said to the man. ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man stretched it out; and it had become as sound as the other.
14 Then the Pharises went out, and consulted against him, howe they might destroy him.
On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death.
15 But whe Iesus knew it, he departed thece, and great multitudes folowed him, and he healed the al,
Jesus, however, became aware of it, and went away from that place. A number of people followed him, and he cured them all;
16 And charged them in threatning wise, that they should not make him knowen,
but he warned them not to make him known,
17 That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Esaias the Prophet, saying,
in fulfilment of these words in the prophet Isaiah –
18 Behold my seruant whom I haue chosen, my beloued in whom my soule deliteth: I wil put my Spirit on him, and he shall shewe iudgement to the Gentiles.
“Here is my chosen servant, who I love and who pleases me! I will breathe my spirit on him, and he will announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not striue, nor crie, neither shall any man heare his voyce in the streetes.
He will not contend, nor cry aloud, Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 A bruised reede shall he not breake, and smoking flaxe shall he not quenche, till he bring forth iudgement vnto victorie.
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench, until he has brought the judgment to a victorious issue,
21 And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust.
and on his name will the Gentiles rest their hopes.”
22 Then was brought to him one, possessed with a deuill, both blind, and dumme, and he healed him, so that he which was blind and dumme, both spake and saw.
Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw.
23 And all the people were amased, and saide, Is not this that sonne of Dauid?
At this all the people were astounded. ‘Is it possible that this is the son of David?’ they exclaimed.
24 But when the Pharises heard it, they saide, This man casteth the deuils no otherwise out, but through Beelzebub the prince of deuils.
But the Pharisees heard of it and said, ‘He drives out demons only by the help of Beelzebul the chief of the demons.’
25 But Iesus knew their thoughtes, and said to them, Euery kingdome deuided against it selfe, is brought to nought: and euery citie or house, deuided against it selfe, shall not stand.
Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last.
26 So if Satan cast out Satan, he is deuided against himself: how shall then his kingdom endure?
So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last?
27 Also if I through Beelzebub cast out deuils, by whom doe your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your iudges.
And, if it is by Beelzebul’s help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they will themselves be your judges.
28 But if I cast out deuils by ye Spirit of God, then is the kingdome of God come vnto you.
But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God must already be upon you.
29 Els howe can a man enter into a strong mans house and spoyle his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then spoile his house.
How, again, can anyone get into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? Not until then will he plunder his house.
30 He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
Anyone who is not with me is against me, and the person who does not help me to gather is scattering.
31 Wherefore I say vnto you, euery sinne and blasphemie shalbe forgiuen vnto men: but the blasphemie against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiuen vnto men.
Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whosoeuer shall speake a word against the Sonne of man, it shall be forgiuen him: but whosoeuer shall speake against the holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiuen him, neither in this worlde, nor in the worlde to come. (aiōn g165)
Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165)
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruite good: or els make the tree euill, and his fruite euil: for the tree is knowen by the fruite.
‘You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by its fruits that a tree is known.
34 O generations of vipers, howe can you speake good things, when ye are euill? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
You children of snakes! How can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth foorth good things: and an euill man out of an euill treasure, bringeth forth euill things.
A good person, from his good stores, produces good things; while an evil person, from his evil stores, produces evil things.
36 But I say vnto you, that of euery idle word that men shall speake, they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement.
I tell you that for every careless thing that people say, they must answer on the “day of judgment.”
37 For by thy wordes thou shalt be iustified, and by thy wordes thou shalt be condemned.
For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned.’
38 Then answered certaine of ye Scribes and of the Pharises, saying, Master, we would see a signe of thee.
At this point, some teachers of the Law and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want to see some sign from you.’
39 But he answered and said to them, An euill and adulterous generation seeketh a signe, but no signe shall be giuen vnto it, saue that signe of the Prophet Ionas.
‘It is a wicked and unfaithful generation,’ answered Jesus, ‘that is asking for a sign, and no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Ionas was three daies and three nights in the whales belly: so shall the Sonne of man be three daies and three nights in ye heart of the earth.
For, just as Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineue shall rise in iudgement with this generation, and condemne it: for they repented at the preaching of Ionas: and behold, a greater then Ionas is here.
At the judgment, the people of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah!
42 The Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with this generation, and shall condemne it: for she came from the vtmost partes of the earth to heare the wisdome of Salomon: and beholde, a greater then Salomon is here.
At the judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon!
43 Nowe when the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout drie places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
No sooner does a foul spirit leave a person, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest, and does not find it.
44 Then he saith, I wil returne into mine house from whence I came: and when he is come, he findeth it emptie, swept and garnished.
Then it says “I will go back to the home which I left”; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order.
45 Then he goeth, and taketh vnto him seuen other spirites worse then himselfe, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the ende of that man is worse then the beginning. Euen so shall it be with this wicked generation.
Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation.’
46 While he yet spake to ye multitude, beholde, his mother, and his brethren stood without, desiring to speake with him.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him.
47 Then one said vnto him, Beholde, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speake with thee.
Someone told him this, and Jesus replied,
48 But he answered, and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
‘Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?’
49 And he stretched foorth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Beholde my mother and my brethren.
Then, stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 For whosoeuer shall doe my Fathers will which is in heauen, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
For anyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’
