Jesus, the master fisherman
(he nearly sinks Simon's boats by catching so many fish)
1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Jesus boarded Simon's boat on lake Gennesaret, [1]
and began to preach to the people.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
When he finished speaking, he said to Simon,
Go out into deep water, and put down your nets.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Simon said,
We've fished all night and caught nothing.
But, OK, I'll let down a net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
As soon as he did this, the net caught so many fish that it broke.
7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
So they called another boat over to help.
But there were so many fish that both boats began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
Simon Peter fell down at Jesus's knees, and said,
Get away from me, for I'm a sinful man.
Jesus calls his first disciples
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were partners with Simon.
Jesus said to Simon,
Don't be afraid. From now on you'll catch men.
11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
As soon as they brought their ships to land, they left everything and followed him. [2]
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
When Jesus was in a certain city, a man with leprosy came to him and said,
Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.
13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Jesus said,
I'd like to, so be clean.
And immediately the leprosy left him.
Jesus told him not to tell anyone.
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
One day while Jesus was teaching,
many Pharisees and doctors of the law were listening,
and a man with palsy was brought to Jesus. [3]
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Since it was so crowded,
they couldn't bring the man in through the door.
So they lowered him through a hole in the roof of the house.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
Man, your sins are forgiven.
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
The scribes and Pharisees said to themselves,
This man blasphemes.
Only God can forgive sins.
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
Which is easier to say,
"Your sins are forgiven" or "Stand up and walk"?
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
But so you'll know that the Son of man has power to forgive sins,
Jesus said to the man with palsy,
Stand up, take your bed, and walk.
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
And the man stood up, took his bed, and walked to his house.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
And everyone was amazed, saying,
We've seen some strange things today.
27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
Jesus saw a publican named Levi [4], who was collecting taxes,
and he said to him,
Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
And he left everything and followed him.
Why Jesus and his disciples didn't fast
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
Levi had a great feast in his house, with many publicans.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus's disciples,
Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? [5]
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Jesus said,
Healthy people don't need a physician. Sick people do.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I ask sinners to repent, not righteous people.
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
They said,
Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees pray and fast, but yours eat and drink?
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
Jesus said,
Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is still with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
When the bridegroom is gone, they'll fast.
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
No one puts a new cloth in an old garment,
or new wine into old bottles.