Mark 14

After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

1The Passover and the Feast of Bread Without Yeast were two days away. The chief priests and the scribes looked for a sneaky way to arrest Jesus and kill him.

2But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

2They said, "Not during the feast. The crowd might start a riot."

3And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

3Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the table in Simon the leper's house. A woman came in with a stone jar of costly perfume made from a plant called nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on his head.

Note"Simon the leper" was his known name. Leprosy was a skin sickness. In this story, people sat back on cushions to eat, so the KJV "sat at meat" just means eating a meal.

4And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

4Some people there were upset. They said to each other, "Why waste this perfume?

5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

5It could have been sold for a whole year's pay. The money could have gone to poor people." And they scolded her.

NoteThe KJV says "three hundred pence." A penny here is a denarius, one day's pay for a worker. So the perfume cost about a year of work.

6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

6Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good thing for me.

7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

7Poor people will always be near you. You can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

8She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body early, to get it ready for burial.

9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

9I tell you the truth. Wherever the good news is told in the whole world, people will also tell what she did. She will be remembered."

10And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

10Then Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests. He was one of the twelve close followers of Jesus. He went to hand Jesus over to them.

11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

11They were happy to hear this. They promised to give him money. So Judas started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over.

12And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

12It was the first day of the Feast of Bread Without Yeast. That was the day the Passover lamb was killed. The followers of Jesus asked him, "Where should we get the Passover meal ready for you?"

13And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

13So he sent two of his followers. He said, "Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

14He will go into a house. Say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room? I want to eat the Passover meal there with my followers.'

15And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

15He will show you a big upstairs room. It will have everything you need. Get the meal ready for us there."

16And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

16The two followers left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus had said. So they got the Passover meal ready.

17And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with his twelve close followers.

18And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

18They were at the table eating. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. One of you eating with me will hand me over to my enemies."

19And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

19They felt very sad. One after another they asked him, "It isn't me, is it?"

20And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

20He answered, "It is one of the twelve. It is the one dipping bread in the bowl with me.

21The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

21The Son of Man will go the way the holy writings say he will go. But how terrible for the man who hands him over! It would be better for that man if he had never been born."

22And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

22While they were eating, Jesus picked up some bread. He thanked God for it and broke it. He gave it to them and said, "Take this. It is my body."

23And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

23Then he took the cup. He thanked God for it and gave it to them. They all drank from it.

24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

24He said to them, "This is my blood. It seals God's promise. It is poured out for many people.

25Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

25I tell you the truth. I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in God's kingdom."

26And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

26They sang a song. Then they went out to the Mount of Olives, a hill near the city.

27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

27Jesus said to them, "Tonight you will all run away from me. The holy writings say, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.'

NoteThe KJV says the followers will be "offended." It does not mean their feelings were hurt. It means they would lose courage and run away.

28But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

28But after I rise from death, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

29But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

29Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else runs away, I never will."

30And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

30Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth. Tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me."

31But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

31But Peter kept saying it louder. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that." And all the others said the same thing.

32And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

32They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his followers, "Sit here while I pray."

33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

33He took Peter, James, and John with him. He began to feel deeply troubled and full of sorrow.

34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

34He said to them, "My heart is so sad I feel like I could die. Stay here and keep watch."

35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

35He walked ahead a little way and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it could be, this hard time would pass by him.

36And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

36He said, "Abba, Father, you can do anything. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want."

37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

37He came back and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not stay awake for one hour?

38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

38Stay awake and pray, so you are not pulled into doing wrong. Your spirit wants to do right, but your body is weak."

39And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

39He went away again and prayed. He said the same words as before.

40And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

40He came back and found them sleeping again. Their eyes were very heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

41He came back a third time. He said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough. The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being handed over to sinful men.

42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

42Get up. Let's go. Look, the man who is handing me over is here."

43And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

43While Jesus was still talking, Judas came. He was one of the twelve. A big crowd came with him carrying swords and clubs. They were sent by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

44The man who was handing Jesus over had planned a signal with them. He said, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard."

45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

45Judas walked straight up to Jesus and said, "Teacher!" Then he kissed him.

46And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

46So the men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

47And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

47One man standing there pulled out a sword. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear.

48And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

48Jesus said to the crowd, "Did you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like I was a robber?

49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple. You did not arrest me then. But this is happening so the holy writings come true."

50And they all forsook him, and fled.

50Then all his followers left him and ran away.

51And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

51A young man was following Jesus. He was wearing only a linen cloth around his body. The men grabbed him.

52And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

52But he slipped out of the cloth and ran away with no clothes on.

53And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

53They took Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests, elders, and scribes came together there.

54And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

54Peter followed far behind, all the way into the high priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.

55And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

55The chief priests and the whole council looked for proof against Jesus so they could put him to death. They found none.

56For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

56Many people told lies about him. But their stories did not match.

57And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

57Then some men stood up and told lies about him. They said,

58We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

58"We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple that human hands built. In three days I will build another one, not made by human hands.'"

59But neither so did their witness agree together.

59But even these stories did not match.

60And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

60The high priest stood up in front of them all. He asked Jesus, "Do you have no answer? What about what these men say about you?"

61But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

61But Jesus stayed quiet and said nothing. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

62And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

62Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God. You will see him coming with the clouds of heaven."

63Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

63Then the high priest tore his own clothes. He said, "Why do we need any more witnesses?

64Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

64You heard him insult God. What do you say?" They all said he was guilty and should die.

65And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

65Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his eyes and hit him with their fists. They said, "Tell us who hit you!" And the guards slapped him.

NoteThe KJV says "Prophesy." With his eyes covered, they were daring him to name who hit him.

66And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

66Peter was down in the courtyard. A servant girl who worked for the high priest came by.

67And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

67She saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too."

68But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

68But he said no. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said. He went out to the gateway. Then a rooster crowed.

69And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

69The servant girl saw him again. She said to the people standing there, "This man is one of them."

70And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

70He said no again. A little later, the people standing there said to Peter, "You really are one of them. You are from Galilee."

71But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

71Then Peter began to call down curses on himself and swear. He said, "I don't know this man you are talking about!"

72And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

72Right then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me." Peter broke down and cried.