The First Disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; John 1:35–42)
1 DBY And it came to pass, as the crowd pressed on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret: BSB BSB: On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
2 DBY and he saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen, having come down from them, were washing their nets. BSB BSB: He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 DBY And getting into one of the ships, which was Simon's, he asked him to draw out a little from the land; and he sat down and taught the crowds out of the ship. BSB BSB: Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
4 DBY But when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Draw out into the deep water and let down your nets for a haul. BSB BSB: When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 DBY And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net. BSB BSB: “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 DBY And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net broke. BSB BSB: When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.
7 DBY And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking. BSB BSB: So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 DBY But Simon Peter, seeing it, fell at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord. BSB BSB: When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” 9 DBY For astonishment had laid hold on him, and on all those who were with him, at the haul of fishes which they had taken; BSB BSB: For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 DBY and in like manner also on James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt be catching men. BSB BSB: and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
11 DBY And having run the ships on shore, leaving all they followed him. BSB BSB: And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
The Leper’s Prayer (Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45)
12 DBY And it came to pass as he was in one of the cities, that behold, there was a man full of leprosy, and seeing Jesus, falling upon his face, he besought him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou art able to cleanse me. BSB BSB: While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
13 DBY And stretching forth his hand he touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed: and immediately the leprosy departed from him. BSB BSB: Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 DBY And he enjoined him to tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing as Moses ordained, for a testimony to them. BSB BSB: “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 DBY But the report concerning him was spread abroad still more, and great crowds came together to hear, and to be healed from their infirmities. BSB BSB: But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
16 DBY And he withdrew himself, and was about in the desert places and praying. BSB BSB: Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12)
17 DBY And it came to pass on one of the days, that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and out of Jerusalem; and the Lord's power was there to heal them. BSB BSB: One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.
18 DBY And lo, men bringing upon a couch a man who was paralysed; and they sought to bring him in, and put him before him. BSB BSB: Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,
19 DBY And not finding what way to bring him in, on account of the crowd, going up on the housetop they let him down through the tiles, with his little couch, into the midst before Jesus. BSB BSB: but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 DBY And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. BSB BSB: When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 DBY And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason in their minds , saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins but God alone? BSB BSB: But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 DBY But Jesus, knowing their reasonings, answering said to them, Why reason ye in your hearts? BSB BSB: Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
23 DBY which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? BSB BSB: Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
24 DBY But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralysed man, I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy little couch and go to thine house. BSB BSB: But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
25 DBY And immediately standing up before them, having taken up that whereon he was laid, he departed to his house, glorifying God. BSB BSB: And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
26 DBY And astonishment seized all, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day. BSB BSB: Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17)
27 DBY And after these things he went forth and saw a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the receipt of taxes, and said to him, Follow me. BSB BSB: After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him,
28 DBY And having left all, rising up, he followed him. BSB BSB: and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.
29 DBY And Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and others who were at table with them. BSB BSB: Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
30 DBY And their scribes and the Pharisees murmured at his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with tax-gatherers and sinners? BSB BSB: But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 DBY And Jesus answering said to them, They that are in sound health have not need of a physician, but those that are ill. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
32 DBY I am not come to call righteous persons , but sinful ones to repentance. BSB BSB: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Questions about Fasting (Matthew 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20)
33 DBY And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make supplications, in like manner those also of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink? BSB BSB: Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”
34 DBY And he said to them, Can ye make the sons of the bridechamber fast when the bridegroom is with them? BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them?
35 DBY But days will come when also the bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then shall they fast in those days. BSB BSB: But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
The Patches and the Wineskins (Matthew 9:16–17; Mark 2:21–22)
36 DBY And he spoke also a parable to them: No one puts a piece of a new garment upon an old garment, otherwise he will both rend the new, and the piece which is from the new will not suit with the old. BSB BSB: He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.
37 DBY And no one puts new wine into old skins, otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; BSB BSB: And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined.
38 DBY but new wine is to be put into new skins, and both are preserved. BSB BSB: Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.
39 DBY And no one having drunk old wine straightway wishes for new, for he says, The old is better. BSB BSB: And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”