< Luke 5 >
1 One day while many people were crowding around him to hear the message from God, Jesus was standing on the shore of Gennesaret Lake, [which is also called Lake Galilee].
And it occurred, that a multitude gathered about him, to hear the word of God. And he was standing by the side of the sea of Gennesaret,
2 He saw two [fishing] boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had gone out of the boats and were washing their [fishing] nets [on the shore]. One of the boats belonged to Simon.
and he saw two ships standing near the sea, and the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 Jesus got in that boat and asked Simon to push the boat a little bit away from the shore [so that he could speak to the crowd more easily. Jesus] sat in the boat and taught the people [who were on the shore].
And one of them belonged to Simon Cephas: and Jesus entered and sat in it. And he told them to draw off a little from the shore, into the sea: and he seated himself, and taught the multitude from the ship.
4 After he finished speaking [to them], he said to Simon, “Push the boat out to where the water is deep. Then let your nets down [into the water] to catch [some fish]!”
And when he ceased from speaking, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and cast your net for a draught.
5 Simon replied, “Master, we [(exc)] worked hard all night but we did not catch any [fish]. But because you [(sg)] tell me to do it, I will let down the nets.”
Simon answered, and said to him: Rabbi, all the night we have toiled, and have caught nothing: but, at thy bidding, I will cast the net.
6 When Peter [and the men with him] had done that, they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking.
And when they had done so, they inclosed very many fishes, so that the net was rent.
7 They motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. So they came and filled both the boats [with fish from the net]. The result was that the boats were so full that they began to sink.
And they made signs to their associates, in the other ship, to come and help them. And when they came, they filled both the ships, so that they were near to sinking.
8 Simon and all the men who were with him were amazed at how many fish they had taken. James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners, were among those who were amazed. When Simon, [whose other name was] Peter, saw [the fish, feeling ashamed to be in the presence of someone who obviously had God’s power], he prostrated himself before Jesus and said, “Lord, you should go away from me, because I am a sinful man!”
And when Simon Cephas saw it, he fell before the feet of Jesus, and said to him: I beseech thee, my Lord, that thou leave me, for I am a sinful man.
For astonishment had seized him, and all that were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had caught:
10 But Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid! [Up until now you(sg) have been gathering fish] [MET], but from now on you will gather people [to become my disciples].”
and in like manner also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. But Jesus said: Fear thou not; henceforth thou shalt catch men unto life.
11 So after they brought the boats to the shore, they left their business [HYP] [in the hands of others] and went with Jesus.
And they brought the vessels to the land: and they left all and followed him.
12 While [Jesus] was in one of the cities [there in the district of Galilee], there was a man there who was very severely affected by leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he prostrated himself before him and, [wanting Jesus to heal him], pleaded with him, “Lord/Sir, [please heal me, because] you are able to heal me if you are willing to!”
And when Jesus was in one of the cities, a man came all full of leprosy and seeing Jesus, he fell upon his face, and besought him, and said to him: My Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.
13 [Then Jesus, disregarding the religious law that forbade people to come close to lepers], reached out his hand and touched the man. He said, “I am willing [to heal you]; and I heal you now!” Immediately the man [was healed]. He was no longer a leper [PRS]!
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him: I will it; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy went from him.
14 Then Jesus told him, “Make sure that you do not report [your healing immediately. First, go to a priest in Jerusalem] and show yourself to him [so that he can examine you and verify that you no longer have leprosy]. After the priest tells [the local people], they will know that [you have been healed, and you will be able to associate with them again]. Also take to the priest [the offering] that Moses commanded [that people who have been healed from leprosy should offer].”
And he charged him: Speak to no one; but go and show thyself to the priests, and offer the oblation for thy purification, as Moses hath commanded, for a testimony to them.
15 But many people heard the man’s report of what [Jesus had done]. The result was that large crowds came to Jesus to hear his [message] and to be healed of their sicknesses {so that he would heal their sicknesses}.
And his fame spread abroad still more: and much people assembled to hear him, and to be cured of their diseases.
16 But he often would go away from them to the desolate area and pray.
And he retired into a desert, and prayed.
17 One day when [Jesus] was teaching, some men from the Pharisee [sect] were sitting there. Some of them were men who taught the [Jewish] laws. They had come from many [HYP] villages in Galilee [district] and also from Jerusalem and from [other] villages in Judea [district]. [At that time while] God was giving Jesus power to heal people,
And it occurred, on one of the days when Jesus was teaching, that Pharisees and Doctors of the law were sitting by, who had come from all the villages of Galilee and of Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 several men brought on a sleeping pad a man who was paralyzed. They wanted to bring him into [the house] and lay him in front of Jesus.
And some persons brought a paralytic man, on a couch, and sought to bring him in, and to place him before him.
19 But there was no way to do that because of the large crowd of people, so they went up [the steps] onto the roof. They tied ropes onto the sleeping pad and, after [removing some of] the tiles on the roof, they lowered the man [on] the sleeping pad. They lowered him through the opening into the midst of the crowd in front of Jesus.
And when they could not thus introduce him, because of the multitude of the people, they ascended to the roof, and let him down with the couch, from the covering, into the midst, before Jesus.
20 When Jesus perceived that they believed that [he could heal the man], he said to him, “My friend, [I] forgive your sins!”
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic: Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 The men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the rest of the Pharisees began to think within themselves, “Who does this man [think he is, saying] that? He is insulting God! (Nobody can forgive sins!/What person can forgive sins?) [RHQ] Only God can do that!”
And the Scribes and Pharisees began to reason, and to say: Who is this that speaketh blasphemy? Who can forgive sins, but God only?
22 Jesus perceived what they were thinking. So he said to them, “(You should not think that way [about what I said]!/Why do you question within yourselves [about what I said]?) [RHQ] [Consider this]:
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: What think ye in your heart?
23 It would [not] be risky [for someone] to say [to this man], ‘[I] forgive your sins,’ [because no one could see whether or not his sins were really forgiven. But no one] [RHQ], [without having the power to heal], would say to [him], ‘Get up and walk!’ [because people could easily see whether he was healed or not].
Which is the easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk?
24 But [as a result of my healing this man] you [(pl)] will know that [God] has authorized [me], the one who came from heaven, to forgive the sins [of people while I am on] the earth, [as well as to heal people].” Then he said to the man who was paralyzed, “To you I say, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping pad, and go home!’”
But that ye may know, that the Son of man is competent to forgive sins on the earth, he said to the paralytic: I say to thee, Arise, take up thy couch, and go to thy home.
25 Immediately the man [was healed]. He stood up in front of them. He picked up the [sleeping pad] on which he had been lying, and went home, praising God.
And instantly, he rose up before their eyes, and took up his couch, and went home, glorifying God.
26 All the people [there] were amazed! They praised God and were completely awestruck. They kept saying, “We [(inc)] have seen wonderful things today!”
And astonishment seized every one; and they Praised God; and they were filled with awe, and said: We have seen wonders today.
27 Then [Jesus] left [the town] and saw a man who collected taxes [for the Roman government]. His name was Levi. He was sitting in the booth where he collected the taxes. Jesus said to him, “Come with me [and become my disciple]!”
And after these things, Jesus went out and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting among the publicans; and he said to him: Come after me.
28 So Levi left his work [HYP] and went with Jesus.
And he left every thing, and arose, and went after him.
29 Afterwards, Levi prepared a big feast in his own house [for Jesus and his disciples]. There was a large group of tax collectors and others eating together with them.
And Levi made a great entertainment for him at his house; and there was a numerous company of publicans and others who reclined with them.
30 The men who were there who taught the [Jewish] laws, ones who belonged to the Pharisee [sect], complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “([It is disgusting that] you are eating with tax collectors and [others who we(exc) consider to be] sinners!/Why are you eating with tax collectors [and others who we(exc) consider to be] sinners?)” [RHQ]
And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said to his disciples: Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 Then, [to indicate that it was those who knew that they had sinned who were coming to him for help], Jesus said to them, “[It is] people who are sick who need a doctor, not those who are well [MET].
And Jesus answered and said to them: A physician is not sought after for the well, but for those very sick.
32 [Similarly], I did not come [from heaven] to invite [those who think they are] righteous [to come to me]. On the contrary, [I came to invite those who know that they are] sinners to turn from their sinful behavior [and come to me].”
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
33 [Those Jewish leaders] said to Jesus, “The disciples of John [the Baptizer] often abstain from food [to show that they want to please God], and the disciples of the Pharisees do that, too. But your disciples keep on eating and drinking! [Why do not they fast like the others]?”
And they said to him: Why do the disciples of John fast often, and pray, and also those of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34 [To show them that it was not appropriate for his disciples to be sad and abstain from food while he was still with them] [MET], Jesus said to them, “When (the bridegroom/man who is getting married) is with [his friends at the time of the wedding], you certainly do not make his friends abstain from food, do you [RHQ]? [No, you do not do that].
And he said to them: Ye cannot make the guests of the nuptial chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them.
35 [But] some day he will be taken away {[his enemies] will take him away} from them. Then, at that time, his friends will abstain from food, [because they will be sad].”
But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken up from them, and then will they fast, in those days.
36 Then Jesus told them two parables [to show them that those who desire to live according to God’s new message should not be forced to obey the old religious traditions like] ([fasting/abstaining from food]), [and that those who know only the old traditions are not eager to accept new ones] [MET]. He said, “People never tear a piece of cloth from a new garment and attach it to an old garment [to mend it]. If they did that, not only would they be ruining the new garment by tearing it, but the new piece of cloth would not match the old garment.
And he spoke a similitude to them: No one teareth a patch from a new garment, and putteth it to an old garment; lest he tear the new, and the patch from the new cease to make the old garment whole.
37 Neither does anyone put freshly-[squeezed] grape juice into old skin bags [to store it]. If anyone did that, the grape juice would burst the skin bags [because they would not stretch when the] new [wine ferments and expands. Then] the skin bags would be ruined, and [the wine] would [also] be spilled.
And no one putteth new wine into old sacks; otherwise, the new wine will burst the sacks, and the wine will run out, and the sacks be ruined.
38 On the contrary, new wine must be put into new wineskins.
But they put new wine into new sacks, and both are preserved.
39 Furthermore, those who have drunk [only] old wine [are content with that]. They do not want to drink the new wine, because they say, ‘The old wine is [MET] fine!’”
And no one drinketh old wine, and immediately calleth for new; for he saith, The old is the delicious.