Luke 5

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,

1One day Jesus stood by a lake called Gennesaret. A crowd pushed close to hear God's message.

2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

2He saw two boats resting at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had gotten out and were washing their nets.

3And 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.

3Jesus got into Simon's boat. He asked Simon to push out a little way from the shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

4When Jesus finished talking, He said to Simon, "Go out where the water is deep. Let your nets down to catch fish."

5And 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.

5Simon said, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because You say so, I will let the nets down."

6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

6They did it, and they caught so many fish that their nets started to rip.

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.

7They waved to their friends in the other boat to come help. The friends came, and both boats got so full they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

8When Simon Peter saw this, he knelt down in front of Jesus. He said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a man who does wrong."

9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

9He was amazed at how many fish they caught. So were all the men with him.

10And 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.

10James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked with Simon, and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will gather people instead of fish."

11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

11They brought their boats to shore. Then they left everything behind and went with Jesus.

12And 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.

12Jesus was in one of the towns. A man came who was covered with a bad skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground. He begged, "Lord, if You are willing, 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.

13Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. He said, "I am willing. Be clean." Right away the disease left him.

14And 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.

14Jesus told him, "Do not tell anyone. Go show yourself to the priest. Bring the gift that Moses said to bring when someone is made clean. That will show them you are well."

NoteThe priest was the one who checked people with skin diseases and said in public when they were well again.

15But 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.

15But the news about Jesus spread even more. Big crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

16Jesus often went away by Himself to an empty, quiet place to pray.

17And 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 Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

17One day Jesus was teaching. Pharisees and teachers of God's law sat nearby. They had come from every town in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem. The Lord's power was there for Jesus to heal people.

18And, 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.

18Some men came carrying a man on a mat. His body was paralyzed, so he could not move or walk. They tried to bring him inside to Jesus.

19And 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.

19The crowd was too thick, so they could not get in. They went up on the roof and made an opening in the tiles. They lowered the man on his mat right in front of Jesus.

20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

20Jesus saw that they trusted Him. He said, "Friend, 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?

21The Bible teachers and Pharisees began to think, "Who is this man? He insults God. Only God can forgive sins."

22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

22Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, "Why are you thinking that in your hearts?

23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

23Which is easier to say? 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get 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.

24I want you to know that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth." Then He said to the paralyzed man, "Get up. Pick up your mat and go home."

25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

25Right away the man stood up in front of them all. He picked up his mat and went home, praising God.

26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

26Everyone was amazed and praised God. They were filled with wonder and said, "We have seen strange things today."

27And 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.

27After that, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi. Levi was sitting at his tax table. Jesus said to him, "Follow Me."

NoteTax collectors gathered money for the Romans, who ruled the land. Many people disliked them and thought they cheated.

28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

28Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed Jesus.

29And 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.

29Levi made a big dinner for Jesus at his house. Many tax collectors and other people sat and ate with them.

30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

30The Pharisees and their Bible teachers grumbled to Jesus' followers. They asked, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and people who do wrong?"

31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

31Jesus answered, "Healthy people do not need a doctor. Sick people do.

32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

32I did not come to call people who are already good. I came to call people who do wrong, so they will turn back to God."

33And 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?

33They said to Jesus, "John's followers often go without food and pray. So do the followers of the Pharisees. But Your followers eat and drink."

34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

34Jesus said, "Guests at a wedding do not go without food. The groom is right there with them.

35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

35But a day will come when the groom is taken away from them. Then they will go without food."

36And 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.

36Jesus told them a story to explain. "Nobody cuts a piece from new clothes to patch old clothes. If he does, he ruins the new clothes. And the new patch will not match the old.

37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

37Nobody pours new wine into old leather bags. The new wine would burst them. The wine would spill, and the bags would be ruined.

NoteIn that time, wine was kept in bags made of animal skin, not in glass bottles. Old skin bags were stiff and could split.

38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

38New wine must go into new leather bags. Then both stay safe.

39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

39And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new wine. He says, 'The old wine is better.'"