Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

(3)And as he sat on the mount of the Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us, when will these things be, and what is the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? (4)And Jesus answering said to them: Take heed, lest any one lead you astray. (5)For many will come in my name, saying: I am the Christ; and will lead astray many. (6)And ye will hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Take heed, be not troubled; for all must come to pass[24:6]; but not yet is the end! (7)For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8)But all these are the beginning of sorrows. (9)Then will they deliver you up unto affliction, and will kill you; and ye will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. (10)And then will many be offended, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. (11)And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. (12)And because iniquity abounds, the love of the many will become cold. (13)But he that has endured to the end, the same shall be saved. (14)And this good news of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a testimony to all nations; and then shall come the end.

(15)When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that reads mark!) (16)then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains; he that is upon the house, (17)let him not come down to take the things out of his house; (18)and he that is in the field, let him not turn back to take his garments. (19)But woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days! (20)And pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath. (21)For then will be great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no nor shall be. (22)And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the chosen, those days shall be shortened. (23)Then if any one say to you: Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here, believe it not. (24)For there will arise false Christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders; so as, if possible, to lead even the chosen astray. (25)Behold, I have told you before.

(26)If therefore they say to you: Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; Behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not. (27)For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and shines even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. (28)For wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

(29)And immediately, after the affliction of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (30)And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth[24:30] mourn, and shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

(31)And he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(32)And learn the parable from the fig-tree: When its branch is already become tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that the summer is near. (33)So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.

(34)Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things are done. (35)Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.

(36)But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (37)But as the days of Noah, so shall be also the coming of the Son of man. (38)For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (39)and knew not until the flood came, and took all away; so shall be also the coming of the Son of man. (40)Then shall there be two men in the field, one is taken, and one is left; (41)two women grinding at the mill, one is taken, and one is left.

(42)Watch therefore; for ye know not in what day[24:42] your Lord comes. (43)But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. (44)Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man comes.

(45)Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord set over his household, to give them their food in due season? (46)Happy that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing! (47)Verily I say to you, that he will set him over all his goods. (48)But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord delays his coming; (49)and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken; (50)the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for it, and in an hour when he is not aware; (51)and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!

XXV.

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2)And five of them were wise, and five foolish. (3)The foolish, taking their lamps, took no oil with them; (4)but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5)While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6)And at midnight a cry was made: Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him. (7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (8)And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. (9)But the wise answered, saying: Not so; there will not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (10)And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they who were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. (11)And afterward come also the rest of the virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. (12)But he answering said: Verily I say to you, I know you not.

(13)Watch, therefore; because ye know not the day, nor the hour!

(14)For as a man going abroad called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods; (15)and to one gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and straightway went abroad. (16)And he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained other five talents. (17)Likewise also he that received the two gained other two. (18)But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (19)After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. (20)And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents; behold, I gained other five talents beside them. (21)His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou wast faithful over a little, I will set thee over much. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22)And he also that received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents; behold, I gained other two talents beside them. (23)His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou wast faithful over a little, I will set thee over much. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24)And he also that received the one talent came and said: Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou strewedst not. (25)And fearing, I went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, thou hast thine own. (26)And his lord answering said to him: Wicked and slothful servant! Thou knewest that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I strewed not? (27)Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers; and when I came, I should have received my own with interest. (28)Take therefore the talent from him, and give to him that has the ten talents. (29)For to every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away. (30)And cast forth the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!

(31)And when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he sit on his throne of glory. (32)And before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he will divide them one from another, as the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. (33)And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

(34)Then will the King say to those on his right hand: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35)For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in, (36)naked and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me.

(37)Then will the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when saw we thee hungering and fed thee, or thirsting and gave thee drink? (38)And when saw we thee a stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee? (39)And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee? (40)And the King will answer and say to them: Verily I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it to me.

(41)Then will he say also to those on the left hand: Depart from me, accursed, into the everlasting fire; prepared for the Devil and his angels. (42)For I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye did not give me drink; (43)I was a stranger, and ye did not take me in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and ye did not visit me.

(44)Then will they also answer, saying: Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? (45)Then will he answer them, saying: Verily I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

(46)And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

XXVI.

AND it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples: (2)Ye know that after two days comes the passover, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.

(3)Then assembled together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4)and consulted together that they might take Jesus by craft, and put him to death. (5)But they said: Not at the feast, that there may not be a tumult among the people.

(6)And Jesus being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, (7)there came to him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he reclined at table. (8)And his disciples seeing it were displeased, saying: To what purpose is this waste? (9)For this might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. (10)And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why trouble ye the woman? For she wrought a good work upon me. (11)For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. (12)For she, in pouring this ointment on my body, did it to prepare me for burial. (13)Verily I say to you, wherever this good news shall be preached in the whole world, this also that she did shall be told, for a memorial of her.

(14)Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, (15)and said: What will ye give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. (16)And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him up.

(17)And on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? (18)And he said: Go into the city to such a man, and say to him: The Teacher says, my time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. (19)And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and made ready the passover.

(20)And when evening was come, he reclined at table with the twelve. (21)And as they were eating, he said: Verily I say to you, that one of you will betray me. (22)And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began to say to him, each one: Lord, is it I? (23)And he answering said: He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. (24)The Son of man goes indeed, as it is written of him; but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him, if that man had not been born.

(25)And Judas, his betrayer, answering said: Rabbi, is it I? He says to him: Thou saidst it.

(26)And as they were eating, Jesus took the loaf[26:26], and blessed, and broke, and gave to the disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body. (27)And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink all ye of it. (28)For this is my blood of the new covenant[26:28], which is shed for many, for remission of sins. (29)And I say to you, that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you, in the kingdom of my Father.

(30)And having sung, they went out into the mount of the Olives.

(31)Then Jesus says to them: All ye will be offended because of me this night. For it is written: I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. (32)But after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

(33)Peter answering said to him: Though all shall be offended because of thee, I will never be offended. (34)Jesus said to him: Verily I say to thee, that this night, before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny me. (35)Peter says to him: Even though I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

(36)Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to the disciples: Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. (37)And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful, and to be troubled. (38)Then says he to them: My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, unto death. Tarry ye here, and watch with me.

(39)And going forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. But yet, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (40)And he comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping; and he says to Peter: Were ye so unable to watch with me one hour? (41)Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(42)Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, saying: My Father, if this can not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (43)And coming he again found them sleeping; for their eyes were heavy.

(44)And leaving them, he went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (45)Then he comes to his disciples, and says to them: Do ye sleep the remaining time, and take your rest[26:45]! Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (46)Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that betrays me.

(47)And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. (48)And his betrayer gave them a sign, saying: Whom I shall kiss, that is he; hold him fast. (49)And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said: Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him. (50)And Jesus said to him: Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him fast. (51)And, behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest took off his ear. (52)Then says Jesus to him: Put back thy sword into its place; for all they who take the sword shall perish with the sword. (53)Thinkest thou that I can not now pray to my Father, and he will send[26:53] me more than twelve legions of angels? (54)How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

(55)In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes: Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves, to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye did not lay hold of me. (56)But all this has been done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all forsook him, and fled.

(57)And they who laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. (58)And Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest; and entering in, he sat with the servants, to see the end.

(59)And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; (60)and found none, though many false witnesses came. But at last came two, (61)and said: This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. (62)And the high priest arose, and said to him: Answerest thou nothing? What do these witness against thee? (63)But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answering said to him: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. (64)Jesus says to him: Thou saidst it. But I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (65)Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying: He blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, ye now heard his blasphemy. (66)What think ye? They answering said: He is guilty of death. (67)Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him, (68)saying: Prophesy to us, O Christ, who is he that struck thee?

(69)And Peter was sitting without, in the court. And a damsel came to him, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean. (70)But he denied before all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. (71)And he having gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there: This man also was with Jesus the Nazarene. (72)And again he denied, with an oath: I do not know the man. (73)And after a little while, they that stood by came and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee. (74)Then he began to invoke curses, and to swear: I do not know the man. And immediately a cock crowed. (75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus when he said: Before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny me. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

XXVII.

AND when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as to put him to death. (2)And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate the governor.

(3)Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repenting brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, (4)saying: I sinned in betraying innocent blood. And they said: What is it to us? Look thou to it. (5)And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (6)And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood. (7)And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. (8)Wherefore that field was called the field of blood, unto this day.

(9)Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

And they took the thirty pieces of silver,
The price of him that was priced,
Whom they of the sons of Israel did price,
(10)And gave them for the potter's field,
as the Lord appointed to me.

(11)And Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor questioned him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said to him: Thou sayest it. (12)And when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he made no answer. (13)Then says Pilate to him: Hearest thou not what things they witness against thee? (14)And he made him no answer, not even to one word; so that the governor greatly wondered.

(15)Now at the feast the governor was wont to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. (16)And they had then a noted prisoner, called Barabbas. (17)When therefore they were assembled, Pilate said to them: Whom will ye that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? (18)For he knew that through envy they delivered him up.

(19)And as he sat on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man; for I suffered much this day, in a dream, because of him.

(20)And the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes, that they should ask for Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus. (21)And the governor answering said to them: Which of the two will ye that I release to you? And they said: Barabbas. (22)Pilate says to them: What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say to him: Let him be crucified. (23)And the governor said: What evil then did he? But they cried the more, saying: Let him be crucified.

(24)And Pilate, seeing that it avails nothing, but rather that a tumult is made, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look ye to it. (25)And all the people answering said: His blood be on us, and on our children. (26)Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having scourged him, he delivered up to be crucified.

(27)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Pretorium, and gathered to him the whole band. (28)And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. (29)And having platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! (30)And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (31)And when they had mocked him, they took off the robe from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him. (32)And as they came out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross.

(33)And having come to a place called Golgotha (which is called, Place of a skull), (34)they gave him vinegar to drink[27:34], mingled with gall; and tasting it, he would not drink. (35)And having crucified him, they divided his garments among them, casting lots. (36)And sitting down, they watched him there. (37)And they set up over his head his accusation, written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(38)Two robbers are then crucified with him, one on the right hand, and one on the left. (39)And those passing by reviled him, wagging their heads, (40)and saying: Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. (41)Likewise also the chief priests mocking, with the scribes and elders, said: (42)Others he saved, himself he can not save. If he is King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. (43)He trusts in God; let him now deliver him, if he desires him; for he said I am the Son of God. (44)And also the robbers, who were crucified with him, reproached him with the same thing.

(45)And from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land, unto the ninth hour. (46)And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? That is: My God, my God, why didst thou forsake me? (47)Some of those standing there, hearing it, said: This man calls for Elijah[27:47]. (48)And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge, and having filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed, gave him to drink. (49)But the rest said: Let alone; let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.

(50)And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. (51)And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent; (52)and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep arose, (53)and coming out of the tombs, after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared to many.

(54)And the centurion, and they that with him were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake, and the things that were done, were exceedingly afraid, saying: Truly this was the Son of God.

(55)And many women were there, beholding afar off, they who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; (56)among whom was Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

(57)And evening having come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. (58)This man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be given up. (59)And taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60)and laid it in his own new tomb, which he hewed out in the rock. And having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, he departed. (61)And Mary the Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

(62)And on the morrow, which is after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, (63)saying: Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise. (64)Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made secure until the third day lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead; and the last error will be worse than the first. (65)Pilate said to them: Ye have a watch; go, make secure, as ye know how. (66)And they went, and made the sepulchre secure, sealing the stone, in connection with the watch.

XXVIII.

AND late in the sabbath, as it was dawning into the first day of the week, came Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary to view the sepulchre. (2)And behold, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord, descending out of heaven, came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. (3)His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow; (4)and for fear of him the keepers shook, and became as dead men. (5)And the angel answering said to the women: Fear not ye; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus, who was crucified. (6)He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come hither, see the place where the Lord lay. (7)And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there ye shall see him. Behold, I told you.

(8)And going out quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, they ran to bring his disciples word. (9)And behold, Jesus met them, saying: All hail! And they, coming to him, laid hold of his feet, and worshiped him. (10)Then Jesus says to them: Be not afraid; go, bear word to my brethren, to go away into Galilee, and there they shall see me.

(11)And as they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and reported to the chief priests all the things that were done. (12)And having assembled with the elders, and taken counsel, they gave much money to the soldiers, (13)saying: Say, that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. (14)And if this shall be heard by the governor[28:14], we will persuade him, and make you secure. (15)And they, taking the money, did as they were taught. And this saying was reported abroad among the Jews, until this day.

(16)And the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (17)And seeing him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

(18)And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying: All power was given to me in heaven and on earth. (19)Go therefore, and disciple all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; (20)teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you alway, unto the end of the world.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK.

I.

THE beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God, (2)as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I send forth my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; (3)the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. (4)John came immersing in the wilderness, and preaching the immersion of repentance unto remission of sins. (5)And there went out to him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were immersed by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(6)And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a leathern girdle about his loins, and ate locusts and wild honey. (7)And he preached, saying: There comes after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. (8)I indeed immersed you in water; but he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.

(9)And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was immersed by John in the Jordan. (10)And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens parted, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him. (11)And there came a voice out of heaven: Thou art my beloved son; in thee I am well pleased.

(12)And immediately the Spirit drives him forth into the wilderness. (13)And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

(14)And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, publishing the good news of the kingdom of God[1:14], (15)and saying: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news.

(16)And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. (17)And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will cause you to become fishers of men. (18)And immediately leaving the nets, they followed him.

(19)And going a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending the nets. (20)And straightway he called them; and leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, they went after him.

(21)And they enter into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath he went into the synagogue, and taught. (22)And they were astonished at his teaching; for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

(23)And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, (24)saying: What have we to do with thee[1:24], Jesus, Nazarene! Didst thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (25)And Jesus rebuked him, saying: Hold thy peace, and come out of him. (26)And the unclean spirit, tearing him, and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. (27)And they were all amazed; so that they questioned among themselves, saying: What is this[1:27]? A new teaching, with authority! And he commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him. (28)And immediately his fame spread abroad into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

(29)And immediately, having come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30)And the mother-in-law of Simon was lying sick with fever; and immediately they tell him concerning her. (31)And he came and raised her up, taking hold of her hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.

(32)And evening having come, when the sun set, they brought to him all that were sick, and those possessed with demons. (33)And all the city was gathered together at the door. (34)And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.

(35)And rising very early, by night, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (36)And Simon, and they who were with him, followed after him. (37)And having found him, they say to him: All are seeking thee. (38)And he says to them: Let us go elsewhere, into the neighboring towns, that I may preach there also; for, for this I came forth. (39)And he was preaching in their synagogues, throughout all Galilee, and casting out the demons.

(40)And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him: If thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me. (41)And Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched forth his hand and touched him, and says to him: I will; be thou cleansed. (42)And immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. (43)And sternly charging him, he forthwith sent him away; (44)and says to him: See thou say nothing to any one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. (45)But he, going forth, began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the report; so that he could no longer openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places. And they came to him from every quarter.

II.

AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was heard that he is in the house. (2)And straightway many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even at the door; and he spoke the word to them.

(3)And they come to him, bringing one that was palsied, borne by four. (4)And not being able to come near him, on account of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was; and having broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the palsied man lay. (5)And Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the palsied man: Child, thy sins are forgiven. (6)But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts: (7)Why does this man speak thus? He blasphemes. Who can forgive sins but one, God? (8)And Jesus, immediately perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them: Why reason ye these things in your hearts? (9)Which is easier, to say to the palsied man, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (10)But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he says to the palsied man,) (11)I say to thee, arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house. (12)And he arose, and immediately taking up the bed went forth before all; so that all were amazed, and glorified God, saying: We never saw it thus.

(13)And he went forth again by the sea-side; and all the multitude came to him, and he taught them.

(14)And passing along, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the place of receiving custom, and said to him: Follow me. And rising up he followed him. (15)And it came to pass, as he reclined at table in his house, that many publicans and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. (16)And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing him eating with the sinners and publicans, said to his disciples: How is it that he eats and drinks with the sinners and the publicans? (17)And Jesus, hearing it, says to them: They who are well need not a physician, but they who are sick. I came not to call righteous men, but sinners.

(18)And the disciples of John, and the Pharisees, were fasting[2:18]; and they come and say to him: Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? (19)And Jesus said to them: Can the sons of the bridechamber fast[2:19], while the bridegroom is with them? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can not fast. (20)But days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them; and then they will fast in that day. (21)No one sews a piece of unfulled cloth upon an old garment; else the new filling up of the old takes from it, and a worse rent is made. (22)And no one puts new wine into old skins; else the wine bursts the skins, and the wine is destroyed, and the skins[2:22].

(23)And it came to pass, that he went through the grain-fields on the sabbath; and his disciples began to go forward[2:23], plucking the ears of grain. (24)And the Pharisees said to him: Behold, why do they on the sabbath that which is not lawful? (25)And he said to them: Did ye never read what David did, when he had need and hungered, himself and they who were with him; (26)how he went into the house of God, in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show-bread, which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him? (27)And he said to them: The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. (28)So that the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

III.

AND he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there, having his hand withered. (2)And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath; that they might accuse him. (3)And he says to the man having the withered hand: Arise, and come into the midst. (4)And he says to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill? But they were silent. (5)And looking round on them with anger, being grieved for their hardness of heart, he says to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.

(6)And going out, the Pharisees immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. (7)And Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea, (8)and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan, and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him. (9)And he spoke to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, that they might not throng him. (10)For he healed many, so that they pressed upon him to touch him, as many as had plagues. (11)And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying: Thou art the Son of God. (12)And he strictly charged them that they should not make him known.

(13)And he goes up into the mountain, and calls to him whom he would; and they went to him. (14)And he appointed twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, (15)and to have authority to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons. (16)And Simon he surnamed Peter; (17)and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder; (18)and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananite[3:18], (19)and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

And they come into the house. (20)And the multitude comes together again, so that they could not even eat bread. (21)And hearing of it, his kinsmen went out to lay hold of him; for they said: He is beside himself.

(22)And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said: He has Beelzebul, and through the prince of the demons he casts out the demons. (23)And calling them to him, he said to them in parables: How can Satan cast out Satan? (24)And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand. (25)And if a house be divided against itself, that house can not stand. (26)And if Satan rose up against himself, and is divided, he can not stand, but has an end. (27)No one can enter into a strong man's house, and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man; and then he will plunder his house. (28)Verily I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and the blasphemies wherewith they shall blaspheme. (29)But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit has no forgiveness forever, but is guilty of eternal sin; (30)because they said: He has an unclean spirit.

(31)And his brothers and his mother come; and standing without they sent to him, calling him. (32)And a crowd was sitting about him; and they say to him: Behold, thy mother and thy brothers without are seeking thee. (33)And he answered them, saying: Who is my mother, or my brothers? (34)And looking round on those who sat about him, he said: Behold my mother, and my brothers! (35)For whoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

IV.

AND he began again to teach by the sea-side. And there was gathered to him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat down in the sea; and all the multitude was by the sea on the land. (2)And he taught them many things in parables, and said to them in his teaching:

(3)Hearken; behold, the sower went forth to sow. (4)And it came to pass, as he sowed, one fell by the way-side, and the birds came and devoured it. (5)And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had not depth of earth. (6)But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had not root, it withered away. (7)And another fell among the thorns; and the thorns came up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. (8)And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, thirty, and sixty, and a hundredfold. (9)And he said: He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

(10)And when he was alone, they who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. (11)And he said to them: To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are without, all things are done in parables; (12)that seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn, and be forgiven. (13)And he says to them: Know ye not this parable? And how will ye know all the parables?

(14)The sower sows the word. (15)And these are they by the way-side; where the word is sown, and when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in them. (16)And these are they likewise that are sown on the rocky places; who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17)and have no root in themselves, but are only for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they are offended. (18)And others are they that are sown among the thorns. These are they that hear the word, (19)and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (20)And these are they that are sown on the good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, in thirty, and in sixty, and in a hundredfold.

(21)And he said to them: Is the lamp brought that it may be put under the bushel, or under the bed? Is it not, that it may be put on the lamp-stand? (22)For nothing is hidden, but it shall be manifested; nor was done in secret, but that it should come abroad. (23)If any one has ears to hear, let him hear.

(24)And he said to them: Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you, and there shall be added to you. (25)For he that has, to him shall be given; and he that has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.

(26)And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as when a man has cast the seed upon the earth, (27)and sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows up, he knows not how. (28)For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. (29)But when the fruit permits, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.

(30)And he said: How shall we liken the kingdom of God, or in what comparison shall we set it forth? (31)As a grain of mustard; which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth. (32)And when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the birds of the air can lodge under its shadow.

(33)And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. (34)But without a parable he spoke not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.

(35)And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them: Let us pass over to the other side. (36)And dismissing the multitude, they take him as he was in the ship. And there were also other ships with him. (37)And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that the ship was already becoming filled. (38)And he was in the stern, on the cushion, sleeping. And they awake him, and say to him: Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? (39)And awaking, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40)And he said to them: Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? (41)And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another: Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

V.

AND they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. (2)And when he had come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3)who had his dwelling in the tombs; and no one could any longer bind him, not even with chains. (4)Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains; and the chains had been torn asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces, and no one could tame him. (5)And always, night and day, he was in the tombs, and in the mountains, crying out, and cutting himself with stones. (6)But seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and bowed down to him, (7)and cried with a loud voice, and said: What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, do not torment me. (8)For he said to him: Come forth, unclean spirit, out of the man. (9)And he asked him: What is thy name? And he says to him: My name is Legion; because we are many. (10)And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

(11)And there was there, by the mountain, a great herd of swine feeding. (12)And all the demons besought him, saying: Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13)And immediately Jesus gave them leave. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered into the swine. And the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, about two thousand, and were choked in the sea. (14)And they who fed them fled, and reported it in the city and in the country. And they came to see what it was that was done. (15)And they come to Jesus, and see him who was possessed with demons, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, him who had the legion, and they were afraid. (16)And they who saw it related to them how it befell him who was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. (17)And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.

(18)And as he was entering into the ship, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. (19)And he suffered him not; but says to him: Go into thy house, to thy friends, and announce to them how great things the Lord has done for thee, and had compassion on thee. (20)And he departed, and began to publish in the Decapolis how great things Jesus did for him; and all wondered.

(21)And Jesus having passed over again in the ship to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. (22)And there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name. And seeing him, he fell at his feet, (23)and besought him much, saying: My little daughter lies at the point of death. I pray thee come, and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed and live. (24)And he went with him; and a great multitude was following him, and thronging him.

(25)And a certain woman, who had a flow of blood twelve years, (26)and had suffered much by many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not at all benefited but rather grew worse, (27)hearing of Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. (28)For she said: If I touch even his garments, I shall be made whole. (29)And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she perceived in her body that she was healed of that plague. (30)And immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, turned about in the crowd, and said: Who touched my garments? (31)And his disciples said to him: Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou: Who touched me? (32)And he looked around to see her who had done this. (33)But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. (34)And he said to her: Daughter, thy faith has made thee whole; go in peace, and be healed of thy plague.