< 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].
A beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God!
2
As it is written in the prophets —“Take note, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”
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 calling out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”—
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 started baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for forgiveness 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.
Well, the whole Judean countryside and the Jerusalemites started going out to him, and were all being baptized by him in the Jordan River, 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.
Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist; and he was eating 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 was proclaiming: “After me my Superior is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
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 indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with 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].
Well it happened in those days that Jesus came from Natsareth 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 immediately upon coming up from the water He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending 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 a Voice came from the heavens: “You are my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased!”
12 (Then/Right away) the Spirit [of God] sent Jesus into the desolate area.
Immediately the Spirit impelled 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 tested by Satan, and was with the wild animals; and the angels were ministering 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.
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming 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 has been fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has approached. Repent and believe in 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.
Then, as He was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother, of Simon, casting a circular net onto the water, 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].
So Jesus said to them: “Come, follow me and I will turn you into fishers of men.”
18 Immediately they abandoned [the work that they were doing with] their nets, and they went with him.
At once they left their nets and 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 there a little ways He saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John; they were in their boat 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.
Right away He called them, and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the 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].
Then they went into Capernaum. The very next Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.
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 kept on being amazed at His teaching, because He was teaching them as one having authority, and not like 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,
Now there was a man in their synagogue 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: “Hey, what do you want with us, Jesus Natsarene?! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus rebuked [the evil spirit], saying, “Be quiet! And come out [of the man]!”
So Jesus rebuked him saying: “Shut up and get out of him!”
26 The evil spirit shook the man hard. He screamed loudly, and then he came out of the man [and left].
The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, 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 all were astounded, so that they questioned among themselves, saying: “What is this? What can this new doctrine be? Because with authority he commands 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].
So His fame spread directly into the whole surrounding area 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.
Immediately upon exiting the synagogue they went 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].
Simon's mother-in-law was lying down with a fever, so without delay 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].
So He went and grasping her hand lifted her up; immediately the fever left her and she began to serve 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.
That evening, when the sun had set, they started bringing to Him all who were sick and the demonized.
33 [It seemed as though] everyone [HYP, MTY] [who lived in] the town was gathered at the doorway [of Simon’s house].
So much so that the whole town was gathered 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 were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew He was Messiah.
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.
Now very early, still night, He got up, slipped out, and went off to a solitary place, where He was praying.
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,
Simon and those with him hunted for Him,
37 “[Come back to the town with us, because] many [HYP] people [in Capernaum] are looking for you!”
and upon finding Him they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
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!”
But He said to them: “Let us go to the neighboring towns, so I can preach there also; that is why I have 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].
He was constantly preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and also casting 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!”
A leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling before Him and saying to Him, “If you want to, you are able to cleanse me.”
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]!”
So being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him: “I want to; be cleansed!”
42 Immediately the man was healed! He was no longer a leper!
And when He said this, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus spoke sternly to him before he sent him away.
And He sent him away at once, sternly warning him,
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].”
by saying: “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things that Moses commanded, as 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.
However he went out and began to proclaim it freely, spreading the news, so that He was no longer able to enter a town openly, but remained outside in deserted places; yet they kept coming to Him from all over.

< Mark 1 >