< Matthew 12 >
1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
About the same time Jesus walked through the corn-fields one Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some ears of wheat and eat them.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath.
But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said: “Look! your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!”
3 But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
“Have not you read,” replied Jesus, “what David did, when he and his companions were hungry —
4 How he entered into the house of God, and ate the show-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them who were with him, but only for the priests?
how he went into the House of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, through it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
And have not you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priest in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?
6 But I say to you, that in this place is [one] greater than the temple.
Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple!
7 But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
And had you learned the meaning of the words — ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned those who are not guilty.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.
For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
9 And when he had departed thence, he went into their synagogue.
Passing on, Jesus went into their Synagogue,
10 And behold, there was a man who had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.
and there he saw a man with a withered hand. Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable to work a cure on the Sabbath — so that they might have a charge to bring against him.
11 And he said to them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it shall fall into a pit on the sabbath, will he not lay hold on it, and lift [it] out?
But Jesus said to them: “Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
And how much more precious a man is than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched [it] out; and [it] was restored to a sound state like the other.
Then he said to the man. “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out; and it had become as sound as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death.
15 But when Jesus knew [it], he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.
Jesus, however, became aware of it, and went away from that place. A number of people followed him, and he cured them all;
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
but he warned them not to make him known,
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
in fulfilment of these words in the Prophet Isaiah —
18 Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
‘Behold! the Servant of my Choice, My Beloved, in whom my heart delights! I will breathe my spirit upon him, and he shall announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not contend, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
He shall not contend, nor cry aloud, Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets;
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he shall send forth judgment to victory.
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench, Till he has brought the judgment to a victorious issue,
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
and on his name shall the Gentiles rest their hopes.”
22 Then was brought to him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.
Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
At this all the people were astounded. “Is it possible that this is the son of David?” they exclaimed.
24 But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [man] doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
But the Pharisees heard of it and said: “He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons.”
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand.
Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last.
26 And if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your children expel [them]? therefore they shall be your judges.
And, if it is by Baal-zebub’s help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you.
But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you.
29 Or else, how can one enter into a strong man's house, and seize his goods, except he shall first bind the strong man? and then he will plunder his house.
How, again, can any one get into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? And not till then will he plunder his house.
30 He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering.
31 Wherefore I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.
Therefore, I tell you, men will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come. (aiōn )
Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn )
33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [its] fruit.
You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by its fruits that a tree is known.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.
35 A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things: and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things.
A good man, from his good stores, produces good things; while an evil man, from his evil stores, produces evil things.
36 But I say to you, That for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment.
I tell you that for every careless thing that men say, they must answer on the ‘Day of Judgment.’
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned.”
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
At this point, some Teachers of the Law and Pharisees interposed. “Teacher,” they said, “we want to see some sign from you.”
39 But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah.
“It is a wicked and unfaithful generation,” answered Jesus, “that is asking for a sign, and no sign shall be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For, just as ‘Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights,’ so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah [is] here.
At the Judgment, the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah!
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.
At the Judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the very ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon!
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and he findeth none.
No sooner does a foul spirit leave a man, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest, and does not find it.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished.
Then it says ‘I will go back to the home which I left’; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation.
Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation.”
46 While he was yet speaking to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him.
47 Then one said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Someone told him this, and Jesus replied:
48 But he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
“Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?”
49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Then, stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said: “Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
For any one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”