Matthew 12
1 In that tyme Jhesus wente bi cornes in the sabot day; and hise disciplis hungriden, and bigunnen to plucke the eris of corn, and to ete.
During that period of time, on a (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest), Jesus [and we] disciples were walking through some grain fields. And because we were hungry, we began to pick some of the heads of grain and eat them. [The laws of Moses permitted people to do that if they were hungry].
2 And Fariseis, seynge, seiden to hym, Lo! thi disciplis don that thing that is not leueful to hem to do in sabatis.
Some Pharisees saw us [do what they considered to be work]. So they said to Jesus, [accusing him], “Look! Your disciples are doing [work] that is not permitted [in our] laws [PRS] [for us] to do on our day of rest!”
3 And he seide to hem, Whether ye han not red, what Dauid dide, whanne he hungride, and thei that weren with hym?
[Jesus wanted to show them that the record in the Scriptures indicated that God permitted people to disobey certain religious laws when they needed food]. [So] he said to them, “[It is written] {[Someone wrote]} [in the Scriptures] [RHQ] what [our revered ancestor King] David did when he and the men with him were hungry. You have read about that, ([but you do not think about what it implies!/so why do you not think about what it implies]?) [RHQ]
4 hou he entride in to the hous of God, and eet looues of proposicioun, whiche looues it was not leueful to hym to ete, nether to hem that weren with hym, but to prestis aloone?
David entered the big tent [where they worshipped] God [and asked for some food. The high priest gave him] the bread that had been {they had} presented [to God]. According to the laws [of Moses], only priests were permitted to eat that bread, but David and the men who were with him ate it. And [God did not consider that what they did was wrong]
5 Or whether ye han not red in the lawe, that in sabotis prestis in the temple defoulen the sabotis, and thei ben with oute blame?
Also, think about the laws that [Moses wrote] [RHQ]. He said that [even though] the priests, [by working] in the Temple on our Jewish day of rest, are not obeying the Jewish day of rest [laws], they are not guilty. You have surely read that, [but you do not understand what it means].
6 And Y seie to you, that here is a gretter than the temple.
Note this: [God allows men to work in] the Temple [on our rest day because that work must be done. But in addition, I] tell you that [I have] more [authority than the authority of] the Temple. So, it is more important for you to obey my teachings than to obey your traditions about our rest day.
7 And if ye wisten, what it is, Y wole merci, and not sacrifice, ye schulden neuer haue condempned innocentis.
[You should think about] these words [of God in the Scriptures]: ‘I want you to [act] mercifully toward people, and not [just] offer sacrifices.’ If you understood what that means, you would not condemn [my disciples], who have done no wrong.
8 For mannus Sone is lord, yhe, of the sabat.
[And I want you to know that] I, the one who came from heaven, have [the] authority [to determine what is right for my disciples to do on] the days of rest.”
9 And whanne he passide fro thennus, he cam in to the synagoge of hem.
After Jesus left there [that day], he went into a building where we Jews worship God.
10 And lo! a man that hadde a drye hoond. And thei axiden hym, and seiden, Whether it be leueful to hele in the sabot? that thei schulden acuse hym.
[He saw] a man with a shriveled hand there. [The Pharisees thought that Jesus would be disobeying the tradition about not working on the day of rest if he healed the man, so one of] them asked him, “Does [God] permit [us] to heal [people] on our day of rest?” [They asked that question] so that they might accuse him [if he healed someone] (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day).
11 And he seide to hem, What man of you schal be, that hath o scheep, and if it falle in to a diche in the sabotis, whether he shal not holde, and lifte it vp?
He replied to them, “Would anyone among you who has [only] one sheep that falls into a hole (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) [just leave it there] [RHQ]? [Certainly not]! You would take hold of it and lift it out right away, [and that would be acceptable work on our day of rest, too]
12 How myche more is a man better than a scheep? Therfor it is leueful to do good in the sabatis.
[Because] sheep are valuable, [their owners may work on our day of rest in order to rescue them. So, because] people are more valuable than sheep, it is certainly right for us to do something good [by healing another person any day, including] our day of rest!”
13 Thanne he seide to the man, Stretche forth thin hoond. And he strauyte forth; and it was restorid to heelthe as the tothir.
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your [withered] hand!” The man stretched it out, and it became normal like the other hand!
14 And the Farisees wenten out, and maden a counsel ayens hym, hou thei schulden distrie hym.
Then the Pharisees left [the meeting house. They were worried that the people would reject their traditions and would accept Jesus’ teaching instead. So] they met together to plan how they could kill him.
15 And Jhesus knewe it, and wente awei fro thennus; and many sueden hym, and he helide hem alle.
Because Jesus knew [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him], he [took us disciples and] went away from there. Crowds, [including many sick people], followed him, [wanting him to heal them], and he healed them all.
16 And he comaundide to hem, that thei schulden not make hym knowun;
But he told them firmly that they should not tell [other people yet] who he was.
17 that that thing were fulfillid, that was seid by Isaie, the prophete, seiynge, Lo!
[By acting humbly like that] he fulfilled what was written by Isaiah the prophet {what Isaiah the prophet wrote} [long ago about the Messiah]. [Isaiah wrote] that God said:
18 my child, whom Y haue chosun, my derling, in whom it hath wel plesid to my soule; Y shal put my spirit on him, and he shal telle dom to hethen men.
Take note of my servant whom I have chosen, the one whom I love and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit in him, and he will proclaim that [God] will judge the non-Jews justly.
19 He shal not stryue, ne crye, nethir ony man shal here his voice in stretis.
He will not quarrel [with people], neither will he shout. He will not [teach with] a loud voice in the [main] streets.
20 A brisid rehed he shal not breke, and he schal not quenche smokynge flax, til he caste out doom to victorie;
Until he has justly judged [the people who trust in him and] has declared them not guilty, he will not destroy [anyone who is weak like] a smashed stalk [MET], nor will he silence [anyone who is as helpless as] a smoldering [linen] wick [MET, DOU].
21 and hethene men schulen hope in his name.
As a result, the non-Jews will confidently expect [that he will do great things for them].
22 Thanne a man blynde and doumbe, that hadde a feend, was brouyt to hym; and he helide hym, so that he spak, and say.
One day when Jesus was at home, [some men] brought to [Jesus] a man [who, because of being] controlled by a demon {a demon controlled him}, was blind and unable to speak. [Jesus] healed him [by expelling the demon]. As a result, the man [began to] talk and [was able to] see.
23 And al the puple wondride, and seide, Whether this be the sone of Dauid?
All the crowd [who saw it] marveled. They began asking [each other], “Could this man be the [Messiah, the] descendant of [King] David, [whom we have been expecting]?”
24 But the Farisees herden, and seiden, He this casteth not out feendis, but in Belsabub, prince of feendis.
Because the Pharisees [and the men who taught the Jewish laws] heard [that the people thought that Jesus might be the Messiah because he had expelled the demon], they said, “[It is not God, but] Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons [from people!]”
25 And Jhesus, witynge her thouytis, seide to hem, Eche kingdom departid ayens it silf, schal be desolatid, and eche cite, or hous, departid ayens it self, schal not stonde.
But Jesus knew what [the Pharisees] were thinking [and saying]. So, [in order to show them that what they said did not make sense], he said to them, “If [the people in] [MTY] one nation fight against each other, [they] will destroy their nation {their nation will be destroyed}. If [people who live in] the same city or house fight each other, they will certainly not remain [as one group or family].
26 And if Satanas castith out Satanas, he is departid ayens him silf; therfor hou schal his kingdom stonde?
[Similarly], if Satan were expelling his own [demons] [MTY], [it would be as though] he was fighting against himself. (His kingdom would not continue!/How could his kingdom continue?) [RHQ] His rule over them would [certainly] not last!
27 And if Y in Belsabub caste out deuelis, in `whom youre sones casten out? Therfor thei schulen be youre domes men.
Furthermore, if [it is true that] Satan enables me to expel demons, is it also true that your disciples [who] expel demons [do so] by [Satan’s] power [RHQ]? [No] So they will show you that you [are not thinking logically].
28 But if Y in the Spirit of God caste out feendis, thanne the kyngdom of God is comen in to you.
But because it is God’s Spirit who [enables] me to expel demons, [that proves that the power of] God to rule [people’s lives] has come to you.
29 Ethir hou may ony man entre in to the hous of a stronge man, and take awey hise vesselis, but `he first bynde the stronge man, and thanne he schal spuyle his hous?
[I will illustrate why I am able to expel demons]. (A person cannot go into the house of a strong man) [RHQ] [But if he ties up the strong man], then he will be able to steal [the things in that man’s] house.
30 He that is not with me, is ayens me; and he that gaderith not togidere with me, scaterith abrood.
[No one can be neutral]. Those who do not acknowledge [that the Holy Spirit enables] me [to expel demons] are opposing me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to [DOU] go away [from me].
31 Therfor I seie to you, al synne and blasfemye shal be foryouun to men, but `the spirit of blasfemye shal not be foryouun.
You [are saying that it is not the Holy Spirit who is enabling me to expel demons]. So I will say this to you: [If] those who offend and slander other people in any way are [then sorry and ask God to forgive them, God] will forgive them. But people who discredit what the Holy Spirit does will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive [people] who discredit what the Holy Spirit does}.
32 And who euere seith a word ayens mannus sone, it shal be foryouun to him; but who that seieth a word ayens the Hooli Goost, it shal not be foryouun to hym, nether in this world, ne in `the tothir. (aiōn g165)
[God is willing to] forgive people who criticize [me], the One who came from heaven. But I [warn you that] those who say evil things about what the Holy Spirit [does] will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive people who speak evil words about what the Holy Spirit [does]}. They will not be forgiven {[He] will not forgive them} now, and they will never be forgiven {[he] will never forgive them}.” (aiōn g165)
33 Ethir make ye the tree good, and his fruyt good; ether make ye the tree yuel and his fruyt yuel; for a tree is knowun of the fruyt.
“Think about this: You can know whether [a person is good and what that person says is good, in the same way that you] can know whether a tree [MET] and the fruit it produces [MET] are good. [You can also know whether a person and what that person says is evil in the same way that you can know] whether a tree [MET] and its fruit [MET] are blighted. You can know whether a tree is good by [seeing] its fruit, and similarly [people can know the evil character of you Pharisees by listening to your accusations against me].
34 Ye generacioun of eddris, hou moun ye speke goode thingis, whanne ye ben yuele? For the mouth spekith of plente of the herte.
[What] you [teach harms people spiritually like poisonous] snakes [harm them physically] [MET]! You are not able to speak good things because you are evil [RHQ]. Evil people [SYN] [like you] speak what comes from all that is in their (inner beings/hearts).
35 A good man bryngith forth good thingis of good tresoure, and an yuel man bringith forth yuel thingis of yuel tresoure.
Good people [speak good things. That is like] taking good things out of buildings where they are stored. But evil people [speak evil things. That is like] taking evil things out of buildings where they are stored.
36 And Y seie to you, that of euery idel word, that men speken, thei schulen yelde resoun therof in the dai of doom;
I tell you that on the day when God judges [MTY], he will make people recall every useless word they have spoken, [and he will judge them accordingly].
37 for of thi wordis thou schalt be iustified, and of thi wordis thou shalt be dampned.
Based on the words that you have spoken, [God] will [either] declare that you are righteous based on the words that you have spoken, or [else] he will condemn you.”
38 Thanne summe of the scribis and Farisees answeriden to hym, and seiden, Mayster, we wolen se a tokne of thee.
Then some of the Pharisees and men who taught the [Jewish] laws responded [to what Jesus was teaching] by saying to him, “Teacher, we want to see you [perform] a miracle [that would prove to us that God sent you].”
39 Which answeride, and seide to hem, An yuel kynrede and a spouse brekere sekith a tokene, and a tokene shal not be youun to it, but the tokene of Jonas, the prophete.
Then Jesus said to them, “[You] people [have already seen me perform miracles], but you are evil, and you do not faithfully worship God [MET]! You want [me to perform] a miracle [that would prove to you that God sent me], but [God will enable] you to see only one miracle. It will be [like] what happened to Jonah the prophet [MET].
40 For as Jonas was in the wombe of a whal thre daies and thre nyytis, so mannus sone shal be in the herte of the erthe thre daies and thre nyytis.
Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and nights [before God caused him to live again]. Similarly, for three days and nights I, the one who came from heaven, will be in a place [where dead people are, and then God will cause me to live again].
41 Men of Nynyue schulen rise in doom with this generacioun, and schulen condempne it; for thei diden penaunce in the prechyng of Jonas, and lo! here a gretter than Jonas.
When [God] judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand [in front of him] with [you] people who [have seen me perform miracles]. The [people of Nineveh turned from their sinful ways as a result of hearing what] Jonah preached. [Jonah was important, but I], who am more important than Jonah, [have come and preached to you, but you have not turned from your sinful ways. So] when [God] judges [all people, he] will condemn you.
42 The queene of the south shal rise in doom with this generacioun, and schal condempne it; for she cam fro the eendis of the erthe to here the wisdom of Salomon, and lo! here a gretter than Salomon.
The queen from [Sheba, South of Israel, who lived long ago, came from a distant region in order to listen to King Solomon teach] many wise things. But now [I], [a man] who [is much] greater [and wiser] than Solomon, am here, [but you have not listened to what I have told you]. So at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba will stand in front of him, along] with you people, and will condemn you.”
43 Whanne an vnclene spirit goith out fro a man, he goith bi drie places, `and sekith rest, and fyndith not.
“[Sometimes] when an evil spirit leaves a person, it wanders around in desolate areas, seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone,
44 Thanne he seith, Y shal turne ayen in to myn hous, fro whannys Y wente out. And he cometh, and fyndith it voide, and clensid with besyms, and maad faire.
it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person [MET] in whom I used to live.’ So it goes back [and finds that the Spirit of God is not in control of that] person’s [life. The person’s life is like] a house that has been swept clean and everything put in order [MET], [but it is] empty.
45 Thanne he goith, and takith with him seuene othere spiritis worse than hym silf; and thei entren, and dwellen there. And the laste thingis of that man ben maad worse than the formere. So it shal be to this worste generacioun.
Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil, and they [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So, although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it becomes much worse. That is what [you] wicked people who [have heard me teach] will experience.”
46 Yit whil he spak to the puple, lo! his modir and his bretheren stoden withouteforth, sekynge to speke to hym.
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his [younger] brothers [arrived]. They stood outside [the house], wanting to speak with him.
47 And a man seide to hym, Lo! thi modir and thi britheren stonden withouteforth, sekynge thee.
Someone said to him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside [the house], wanting to talk to you.”
48 He answeride to the man, that spak to hym, and seide, Who is my modir? and who ben my britheren?
Then Jesus said to the person who told him [that], “([I will tell you something about] my mother and brothers [MET].[/Do you know] who I [consider to be like] my mother and my brothers?)” [MET, RHQ]
49 And he helde forth his hoond in to hise disciplis, and seide, Lo! my modir and my bretheren;
He then pointed toward [us] disciples and said, “These are ones [whom I love as much as I love] my mother and my brothers [MET].
50 for who euer doith the wille of my fadir that is in heuenes, he is my brothir, and sistir, and modir.
Those who do what [God] my Father [who is] in heaven wants, are [as dear to me] [MET] [as] my brother, my sister, or my mother.”
