Mark 1
1 ([This is/I want to tell you]) the good message about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God). [What I want to tell you] begins just like the prophet Isaiah [said it would begin, when] he wrote [these words that God said to Jesus: ] Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare [people for] your [coming].
THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way.
3 He will call out to people [who pass by where he is] in the desolate area, “As people improve and straighten out pathways [before an important official arrives] [MET], make [yourselves] ready [DOU] [in order that you will be prepared when] the Lord [comes].”
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make smooth his paths.
4 [The messenger that Isaiah predicted was] John. [People called him] ‘The Baptizer’. In the desolate area near the Jordan River he kept telling people, “If you want God to forgive you for having sinned, you must turn away from your sinful behavior [before you ask me to] baptize [you].”
John baptized in the wilderness, and proclaimed the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 A great number [HYP] of people who lived in Jerusalem [city] and [elsewhere] in the Judea [district] were going out to where John was. There, [after hearing John’s message], they [responded by] confessing the sinful things [that they had done]. Then they were being baptized by John {John was baptizing them} in the Jordan River.
And there went out to him all the region of Judaea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and he baptized them in the river Jordan, while they confessed their sins.
6 John wore [rough] clothes made of camel’s hair. And [as the prophet Elijah had done], he wore a leather belt around his waist; and what he ate was [only] grasshoppers and honey [that he found] in that desolate area.
And this John was clad in raiment of camels' hair; and was girded with a cincture of skin about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
7 He was preaching, “Very shortly a man will come who is very great. I [am nothing compared to him. Because he is so superior to me], I am not even worthy to [serve him like a slave] by stooping down and untying his sandals.
And he proclaimed, and said: Behold, after me cometh one more powerful than I, of whom I am not worthy to stoop and untie the fastenings of his shoes.
8 I used [only] water when I baptized you [because you said that you wanted to change your lives], but he will put his Holy Spirit [within] you [to truly change your lives].”
I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
9 During that time [when John was preaching], Jesus came from Nazareth [town], which is in Galilee [district]. He went to [where John was preaching] and he was baptized by John {John baptized him} in the Jordan [River].
And it occurred, in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized in Jordan by John.
10 Immediately after [Jesus] came up out of the water, he saw heaven opened up [and he saw] the Spirit [of God] descending on himself. He came in the form of a dove.
And immediately on his coming from the water, he saw the heavens cleft, and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him.
11 And [God] [MTY] spoke to him from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love dearly. I am very pleased with you.”
And there was a voice from the heavens: Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I delight.
12 (Then/Right away) the Spirit [of God] sent Jesus into the desolate area.
And directly the Spirit carried him into the wilderness:
13 He was there for 40 days. During that time, he was tempted by Satan {Satan tempted him}. There were wild animals [there] also. But angels took care of him.
and he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild beasts; and angels ministered to him.
14 Later, after John was put in prison {after [soldiers] put John in prison} [because he had rebuked the governor Herod Antipas for his sins], Jesus went to Galilee [district]. There he was preaching the good message [that came] from God.
After John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, and proclaimed the tidings, of the kingdom of God,
15 He was repeatedly saying, “Now is the time when God will begin to rule people’s lives [in a new way]. [So] turn away from your sinful behavior! Believe the good message [in order] ([to belong to him/to become those whose lives he will rule])!”
and said: The time is completed, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent ye, and believe the tidings.
16 [One day], while Jesus was walking along by Galilee Lake, he saw [two men], Simon and Simon’s [younger] brother, Andrew. They were casting their [fishing] net into the lake. They [earned money by] catching [and selling] fish.
And as he walked near the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “[Just like you have been] gathering fish, come with me and I will [teach] you how to [gather people to become my disciples]” [MET].
And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
18 Immediately they abandoned [the work that they were doing with] their nets, and they went with him.
And immediately they left their nets, and went after him.
19 After they had gone on a little further, Jesus saw [two other men], James and James’ [younger] brother, John. They were the sons of [a man named] Zebedee. They were both in a boat mending [fishing] nets.
And as he passed on a little, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in a ship, and mending their nets.
20 As soon as Jesus saw them, he told them that [they should leave their work and to come with him]. So they left their father, [who remained] in the boat with the hired servants, and they went away with Jesus.
And he called them: and immediately they left Zebedee their father in the ship, with the hired servants, and went after him.
21 [Later] Jesus [and those disciples] arrived at Capernaum [town]. On the next (Sabbath/Jewish rest day), after Jesus had entered (the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place), he began teaching [the people who had gathered there].
And when they entered Capernaum, he immediately taught on the sabbath in their synagogues.
22 They were continually amazed at the way he taught. [He did] not [just teach what others had taught], like the men who teach the [Jewish] laws did. [They habitually just repeated what other people had taught]. Instead, he taught with [his own] authority.
And they were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them, as having authority, and not as their Scribes.
23 Suddenly, [while he was teaching], a man [appeared] in their worship place who had an evil spirit in him, and he shouted,
And in their synagogue was a man, in whom was an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 “Jesus, from Nazareth [town, since] we [evil spirits] have nothing in common with you, ([do not interfere with us]!/what do you want with us [evil spirits]?) [RHQ] (Do not destroy us [now]!/Have you come to destroy us [now]?) [RHQ] I know who you are. I know that you are the holy one [who has come] from God!”
and said: What have we to do with thee? Jesus thou Nazarean. Hast thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 Jesus rebuked [the evil spirit], saying, “Be quiet! And come out [of the man]!”
And Jesus rebuked him, and said: Shut thy mouth, and come out of him.
26 The evil spirit shook the man hard. He screamed loudly, and then he came out of the man [and left].
And the unclean spirit threw him down, and cried with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 All [the people who were there] were amazed. As a result, they discussed this among themselves, [exclaiming], “(This is [amazing]!/What is this?) [RHQ] Not only does he teach in a new and authoritative way, but also the evil spirits obey him [when] he commands [them]!”
And they were all amazed, and inquired one of another, and said: What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
28 The people very soon told [many others] throughout the whole Galilee district what Jesus [had done].
And immediately his fame spread into all the land of Galilee.
29 After they left (the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place), [Jesus, Simon and Andrew], along with James and John went directly to Simon and Andrew’s house.
And he retired from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed because she had a [high] fever. Right away someone told Jesus about her [being sick].
And Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever: and they told him about her.
31 He went to her, and helped her up by taking hold of her hand. She recovered [at once] from the fever, and then she [got up and] served them [some food].
And he came, and took her hand, and raised her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.
32 That evening, after the sun had gone down [and restrictions about travel on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day]) [were ended], some people brought to Jesus many people who were sick and others whose lives evil spirits were controlling.
And in the evening at the setting of the sun, they brought to him all them that were diseased, and demoniacs.
33 [It seemed as though] everyone [HYP, MTY] [who lived in] the town was gathered at the doorway [of Simon’s house].
And all the city was collected at the door.
34 Jesus healed many people who were ill with various diseases. He also expelled many demons [from people]. He did not allow the demons to tell people [about him], because they knew that he [had come from God, and for various reasons he did not want everyone to know that yet].
And he healed many who labored under divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 Jesus got up very early [the next morning] while it was still dark. He left [the house] and went away [from the town] to a place where there were no people. Then he prayed there.
And in the morning, he rose much before others, and retired to a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, [wanting him to go back to town to help other people], they said to him,
And Simon and his associates sought for him.
37 “[Come back to the town with us, because] many [HYP] people [in Capernaum] are looking for you!”
And when they found him, they said to him: Every body is seeking for thee.
38 He said to them, “[No], let’s go on to the neighboring towns in order that I can preach there also, because the reason that I came [into the world] was to [preach to people] in many places!”
And he said to them: Go into the adjacent villages and towns; for there also I will preach, because therefore have I come.
39 So they went throughout Galilee [district. As they did so, each (Sabbath/Jewish rest day]) he preached in (synagogues/Jewish meeting places). He was also expelling evil spirits [from people].
And he preached in all their synagogues, in all Galilee, and cast out demons.
40 [One day] a man who had [a bad skin disease called] leprosy came to Jesus. He knelt down in front of Jesus and then he pleaded with him saying, “[Please heal me, because I know] you are able to heal me if you want to!”
And a leper came to him, and fell at his feet, and entreated him, and said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 Jesus felt very sorry for him. [So he ignored the religious laws about coming close to people who had that disease]. He reached out his hand and touched the man. Then he said to him, “Since I am willing [to heal you], be healed {I heal you} [now]!”
And Jesus had compassion on him, and stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said: I will; be thou clean.
42 Immediately the man was healed! He was no longer a leper!
And in that hour, his leprosy departed from him, and he became clean.
43 Jesus spoke sternly to him before he sent him away.
And he charged him, and sent him away,
44 What Jesus said was, “Go to a local priest and show yourself to him [in order that he may examine you and verify that you are healed]. Then, [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]. Make sure that you do not tell others [about what happened] Then go to [Jerusalem and take to the priest what Moses commanded that people who have been healed from leprosy should offer, in order that he] may offer it [as a sacrifice to God].”
and he said to him: See that thou tell no person; but go, show thyself to the priests, and offer an oblation on account of thy purification, as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
45 The man went [and presented himself to the priest. But then] he began to tell many people about [how Jesus had healed him] [DOU]. As a result, Jesus was no longer able to enter any town publicly [because the crowds would surround him]. Instead, he remained outside [the towns] in places [where no people lived]. But people kept coming to him from all over that region.
And he, as he went out, began to proclaim it much, and to divulge the matter; so that Jesus could not openly go into the city, but was without, in desert places; and they came to him from every quarter.
