< Mark 2 >
1 After many days, he returned to Capernaum; and when it was known that he was in the house,
2 such a multitude flocked thither, that there was no room for them, not even near the door, and he taught them the word.
3 A paralytic was then brought, carried by four men,
4 who, not being able to come nigh him for the crowd, uncovered the place where Jesus was; and, through the opening, let down the conch, on which the paralytic lay.
5 Jesus perceiving their faith, said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you.
6 But certain scribes who were present, reasoned thus within themselves:
7 How does this man speak such blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God?
8 Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that they made these reflections, said to them, Why do you reason thus within yourselves?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, with effect, Arise, take up your couch and walk?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power upon the earth to forgive sins, rise, (he said to the paralytic, )
11 I command you, take up your couch, and go home.
12 Immediately he rose, took up the couch, and walked out before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this.
13 Again, he went out toward the sea, and all the multitude repaired to him, and he taught them.
14 Passing along, he saw Levi, son of Alpheus, sitting at the toll office, and said to him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
15 Now when Jesus was eating in this man's house, several publicans and sinners placed themselves at table with him and his disciples: for many of these people followed him.
16 The Scribes and the Pharisees, seeing him eat with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples, Wherefore does he eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
17 Jesus, hearing this, replied, The whole need not a physician, but the sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
18 The disciples of John, and those of the Pharisees, accustomed to fasting, came to him and said, John's disciples, and those of the Pharisees, fast; why do not your disciples fast?
19 Jesus answered, Do the bridemen fast while the bridegroom is with them? While the bridegroom is with them they do not fast.
20 But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be take from them; and in those days they will fast.
21 No person sews a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment; otherwise the new patch tears the old cloth, and makes a worse rent.
22 No person puts new wine into old leather bottles; else the new wine bursts the bottle; and thus both the wine is split, and the bottles are rendered useless; but new wine must be put into new bottles.
23 Once, when he was going through the corn on the Sabbath, his disciples began to pluck the ears of corn as they went.
24 The Pharisees said to him, Why do they that which on the Sabbath, it is unlawful to do?
25 He answered, Did you never read what David and his attendants did, in a strait, when they were hungry,
26 how he entered the tabernacle of God, in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and eat the loaves of the presence, which none but the priests could lawfully eat, and gave of them also to his attendants?
27 He added, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
28 Therefore the Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath.
