Luke 7

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

1Jesus finished saying all these things to the people. Then he went into the town of Capernaum.

2And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

2An army officer lived there. He was a centurion, a leader of about a hundred soldiers. His servant, whom he cared for very much, was sick and about to die.

3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

3The officer heard about Jesus. He sent some Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant.

4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

4They came to Jesus and begged him hard. They said, "This man should have your help."

5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

5They said, "He loves our people. He even paid to build our meeting place for worship."

6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

6So Jesus went with them. When he was near the house, the officer sent friends to him. They said, "Sir, do not go to any trouble. I am not good enough to have you come inside my house."

7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

7The message went on, "That is why I did not come to you myself. Just say the word, and my servant will be well."

8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

8"I am a man with leaders over me, and soldiers under me. I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another, 'Come,' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

9Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He turned to the crowd walking behind him. He said, "I have not found trust this strong, not even in Israel."

10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

10The men who had been sent went back to the house. They found the servant well again.

11And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

11The next day Jesus went to a town called Nain. Many of his followers went with him, and a big crowd too.

12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

12He came near the town gate. A dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and her husband had died. Many people from the town were with her.

13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

13When the Lord saw her, he felt deep pity for her. He said to her, "Do not cry."

14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

14He walked over and touched the frame that held the body. The men carrying it stood still. Jesus said, "Young man, I tell you, get up."

NoteThe KJV word "bier" means the flat wooden frame used to carry a dead body to the burial place.

15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

15The dead man sat up and began to talk. Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

16A holy fear came over everyone there. They praised God and said, "A great prophet, a person who speaks God's words, is here among us!" They also said, "God has come to help his people."

17And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

17The news about Jesus spread all through Judea and the whole area around it.

18And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

18John the Baptist's followers told him about everything that had happened.

19And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

19John called two of his followers. He sent them to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was coming? Or should we wait for someone else?"

20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask you this. Are you the one who was coming, or should we wait for someone else?"

21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

21Right then Jesus healed many people of sicknesses and pains. He sent evil spirits out of people. He made many blind people able to see.

22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

22Then Jesus answered them, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard. Blind people see. People who could not walk now walk. People with bad skin disease are made clean. Deaf people hear. Dead people are raised to life. Poor people hear the good news."

23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

23"God will bless the person who does not turn away from me."

24And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

24John's men left, and Jesus began to talk to the crowd about John. He asked, "What did you go out to the empty land to see? A tall plant bending in the wind?"

25But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

25"Then what did you go out to see? A man in soft, fine clothes? People who wear fancy clothes and live in comfort are in kings' houses."

26But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

26"So what did you go out to see? A prophet, a person who speaks for God? Yes, I tell you, John is even more than that."

27This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

27"John is the one God wrote about long ago. God said, 'I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get the road ready for you.'"

28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

28"I tell you, no one ever born is greater than John. But whoever is smallest in God's kingdom is greater than he is."

29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

29All the people who heard this agreed that God was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. John had already baptized them, washing them in water.

Note"Publicans" in the KJV means tax collectors. They gathered money for the Roman rulers, and most people disliked them.

30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law said no to God's plan for them. Pharisees were men who tried hard to keep every rule. They would not let John baptize them.

31And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

31The Lord said, "What are the people of today like? What can I compare them to?"

32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

32"They are like children sitting in the market. They call out to each other, 'We played happy music, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'"

33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

33"John the Baptist came. He did not eat bread or drink wine. And you say, 'An evil spirit is in him.'"

34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

34"I, the Son of Man, came eating and drinking. And you say, 'Look, he eats and drinks too much! He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"

35But wisdom is justified of all her children.

35"But everyone who follows wisdom shows that wisdom is right."

36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went into his house and lay down at the table.

Note"Sat down to meat" means sat down to a meal. In the KJV, "meat" means food of any kind. At such meals people lay on low couches instead of sitting on chairs.

37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

37A woman in that town had lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. She brought a stone jar of sweet-smelling oil.

38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

38She stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying. Her tears fell on his feet, and she dried them with her hair. She kissed his feet and poured the oil on them.

39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

39The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He thought to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know she is a sinner."

40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." Simon said, "Teacher, go ahead."

41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

41Jesus said, "Two men owed money to a lender. One owed five hundred silver coins. The other owed fifty."

NoteThe KJV "pence" are Roman coins called denarii. One was about a day's pay, so five hundred was close to two years of work.

42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

42"Neither man could pay him back. So the lender said they did not have to pay. Which man will love him more?"

43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

43Simon answered, "I think the one who owed more." Jesus said to him, "You are right."

44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

44Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet. She washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair."

45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

45"You gave me no kiss to welcome me. But she has kissed my feet ever since I came in."

46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

46"You did not pour oil on my head. But she poured sweet-smelling oil on my feet."

47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

47"So I tell you, her many sins are forgiven. That is why she loved so much. But a person who is forgiven only a little loves only a little."

48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

49The other people at the table said to themselves, "Who is this man? He even forgives sins."

50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

50Jesus said to the woman, "Your trust in me has saved you. Go in peace."