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 Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaias the prophet: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare the way before thee.
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].”
A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight 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 was in the desert baptizing, and preaching the baptism of penance, unto 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 country of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem, and were baptized by him in the river of Jordan, confessing 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 John was clothed with camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and he ate 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 preached, saying: There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
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 shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
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 came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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 forthwith coming up out of he water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on 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 came a voice from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
12 (Then/Right away) the Spirit [of God] sent Jesus into the desolate area.
And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert.
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 in the desert forty days and forty nights, and was tempted by Satan; and he was with beasts, and the 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.
And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel 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 saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.
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 passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets 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 to become fishers of men.
18 Immediately they abandoned [the work that they were doing with] their nets, and they went with him.
And immediately leaving their nets, they followed 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 going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship:
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 forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed 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 they entered into Capharnaum, and forthwith upon the sabbath days going into the synagogue, he taught them.
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 was teaching them as one having power, and not as the 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 there was in their synagogue a man with 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!”
Saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know 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 threatened him, saying: Speak no more, and go out of the man.
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 tearing him, and crying out with a loud voice, went 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, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying: What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth even 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 the fame of him was spread forthwith into all the country 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 immediately going out of the synagogue they came 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 wife’s mother lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of 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 coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto 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 when it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all that were ill and that were possessed with devils.
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 gathered together 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 that were troubled with divers diseases; and he cast out many devils, and he suffered them not 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 rising very early, going out, he went into a desert place: and there he 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 they that were with him, followed after him.
37 “[Come back to the town with us, because] many [HYP] people [in Capernaum] are looking for you!”
And when they had found him, they said to him: All seek 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 saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am 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 was preaching in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils.
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 there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down 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 having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean.
42 Immediately the man was healed! He was no longer a leper!
And when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
43 Jesus spoke sternly to him before he sent him away.
And he strictly charged him, and forthwith 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 saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that 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.
But he being gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the word: so that he could not openly go into the city, but was without in desert places: and they flocked to him from all sides.
