Matthew 14
1 During that time Herod [Antipas], the ruler, heard reports about Jesus [performing miracles].
At the time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus.
2 He said to his servants: “That must be John the Baptizer. He must have risen from the dead, and that is why he has power to perform miracles.”
And he said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.
3 The reason [Herod thought that was this: Herod had married] Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, [while Philip was still living. So] John had been saying to him, “[What] you [did by] marrying [your brother’s wife while your brother is still alive is against God’s] law!” Then, to [please] Herodias, Herod [told his soldiers] to arrest John. They bound him with chains and put him in prison.
For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison, because of Herodias, his brother’s wife.
For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 Herod wanted to have John executed, but he was afraid that the people [who had accepted what John taught would riot if he did that], because they believed that John was a prophet.
And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people: because they esteemed him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod [gave a party to celebrate] his birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for [his guests]. This pleased Herod.
But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod.
7 So he promised to give her whatever she asked, and he asked God to punish him if he did not do what he had promised.
Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him.
8 [So Herodias’ daughter went and asked her mother what to ask for]. Her mother told her to ask for John the Baptizer’s head. [So] her daughter [went back and] said [to Herod]: “[Cut off] the head of John the Baptizer and [please] bring it here on a platter [so that my mother can know for sure that he is dead!]”
But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist.
9 The king was distressed because he now knew he should not have made that promise to her. [But] because he had made an oath [in front of] his guests [when he made that promise], and [he did not want] them [to think that he would not do what he had promised], he commanded that [the girl] be given [what she requested].
And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given.
10 He sent [the executioner to go to] the prison and to cut off John’s head.
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 [The executioner did that, and] put John’s head on a platter and gave it to the girl. Then the girl took it to her mother.
And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.
12 John’s disciples then went [to the prison], took John’s body and buried it, and they reported to Jesus [what had happened].
And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came and told Jesus.
13 After Jesus heard that, he took [just us disciples] with him and we went by boat [on Galilee Lake to an uninhabited place]. Matthew 14:13-21 After the crowds heard [that we had gone to an uninhabited place], they [left their towns and] followed Jesus, walking along the shore.
Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from thence by boat, into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 When Jesus came [to the shore], he saw a large crowd of people [who had gathered there, waiting for him]. He felt sorry for them, and he healed those [among them who were] sick.
And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15 When it was [nearly] evening, we disciples came to him and said, “This is a place where nobody lives, and it is very late. Dismiss the crowds so that they can go into the [nearby] towns. [Have them do that so that they can] buy food for themselves.”
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said to us, “They do not need to leave [to get food. Instead], you [yourselves] give them something to eat!”
But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat.
17 We said to him, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two [cooked] fish here!”
They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said [to us], “Bring them to me!”
He said to them: Bring them hither to me.
19 He told the people [who had gathered there] to sit on the grass. Then he took the five flat loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven, thanked [God for them], and broke [them into pieces]. Then he gave them to us disciples, and we distributed them to the crowd.
And when he had commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
20 All [the people in the crowd] ate until they had enough to eat. Then we [disciples] gathered the pieces that were left over, [and we] filled twelve baskets with them.
And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments.
21 Those who ate were about 5,000 men. [We did] not [count the] women and children!
And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 Right after that happened, Jesus told us disciples to get in the boat and to go ahead of him further around [the lake] while he dismissed the crowds.
And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people.
23 After he dismissed them, he went up into the hills to pray by himself. When it was evening, he was [still] there alone.
And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.
24 [By this time] we were already many hundred meters from the shore. The boat was being severely tossed around by the waves {The waves were severely tossing the boat} because the wind was [blowing] against [it].
But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 [Then Jesus came down from the hills to the lake]. Some time between three and six o’clock in the morning he walked on the water toward our [boat].
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea.
26 When we disciples saw someone walking on the water, we thought that [we must be seeing] a ghost. We were terrified, and we screamed out because we were afraid.
And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.
27 Immediately Jesus said to us, “Cheer up! It is I. Do not be afraid!”
And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not.
28 Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to walk on the water to you!”
And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.
29 Then Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus.
30 But when Peter looked at the [tossing waves which] the strong wind [caused], he became afraid. He began to sink, and cried out, “Lord, save me!”
But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and grabbed him. He said to Peter, “You only trust a little bit [in my power] (Why did you doubt [that I could keep you from sinking]?/You should not have doubted [that I could keep you from sinking]!) [RHQ]”
And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?
32 Then Jesus and Peter got in the boat, and the wind [immediately] stopped blowing.
And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 All [of us disciples] who were in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “Truly you are the (Son of/man two is also) God!”
And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.
34 When we had gone further around [the lake in the boat], we came ashore at Gennesaret [town].
And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar.
35 The men of that area recognized Jesus. So they sent [people to inform those who lived] in that whole surrounding region [MTY] [that Jesus was in their area]. [So the people] brought to Jesus all the sick people [who lived in that region].
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent into all that country, and brought to him all that were diseased.
36 [The sick people] kept begging him to allow them to touch [him or] just to touch the edge of his robe [so that they would be healed]. And all who touched [him or his robe] were healed {he healed all who touched [him or his clothing]}.
And they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. And as many as touched, were made whole.
