Mark

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

1This is the start of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

2Long ago a prophet wrote this down. A prophet is someone who told people what God said. God said, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get your road ready."

3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

3The prophet also wrote, "Someone is calling out in the wilderness, the empty land where almost nobody lives. He says, 'Get the road ready for the Lord. Make his paths straight.'"

4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

4John came to that empty land. He baptized people in water. He told them to turn away from doing wrong so their sins would be forgiven.

NoteTo baptize means to dip someone in water. It was a sign that the person was turning away from doing wrong.

5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

5People came out to him from Jerusalem and from all over the land of Judea. They told God the wrong things they had done. John baptized them in the Jordan River.

6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

6John wore clothes made from camel hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and honey from wild bees.

NoteLocusts are large insects, a lot like grasshoppers. People in that time really did eat them.

7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

7John told the people, "Someone stronger than me is coming after me. I am not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals."

8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

8"I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

9Around that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.

10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open. God's Spirit came down on him like a dove.

11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

11A voice came from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."

12And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

12Right away God's Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness.

13And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

13Jesus stayed there forty days. Satan tried to get him to do wrong. Wild animals were there too. Angels took care of him.

14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

14Later John was put in prison. Then Jesus went to Galilee. He told people the good news from God.

15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

15He said, "The right time is here. God's kingdom is close. Turn away from doing wrong, and believe the good news."

16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

16Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, a large lake. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water. They caught fish for their work.

17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

17Jesus said to them, "Come and follow me. You gather fish now. I will teach you to gather people."

18And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

18Right away they left their nets and went with him.

19And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

19He walked a little farther. He saw James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, fixing their nets.

20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

20Right away Jesus called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. Then they went with Jesus.

21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

21They went to the town of Capernaum. On the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. A synagogue is where Jewish people met to pray and learn.

22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

22The people were surprised at his teaching. He taught like someone who was in charge. The scribes, the teachers who studied and copied God's law, did not teach that way.

23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

23A man in the synagogue had an evil spirit inside him. The man shouted out.

24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

24He said, "Leave us alone, Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are God's Holy One."

25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

25Jesus spoke firmly to the spirit. He said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"

26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

26The evil spirit shook the man hard. It gave a loud yell. Then it came out of him.

27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

27Everyone was amazed. They asked each other, "What is this? This teaching is new, and he is in charge. He even tells evil spirits what to do, and they obey him."

28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

28Soon news about Jesus spread through the whole area around Galilee.

29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went to Simon and Andrew's house. James and John went with them.

30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

30Simon's wife's mother was in bed, sick with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away.

31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

31Jesus went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began serving them.

32And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

32That evening, after the sun went down, people brought Jesus everyone who was sick. They also brought people who had demons inside them.

33And all the city was gathered together at the door.

33The whole town crowded together at the door.

34And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

34Jesus healed many people who had many kinds of sickness. He also sent many demons out of people. He would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.

35And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

35Early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up. He went off alone to a quiet place to pray.

36And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

36Simon and the others with him went out to look for Jesus.

37And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

37When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!"

38And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

38Jesus said, "Let's go to the nearby towns. I want to tell the good news there too. That is why I came."

39And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

39So Jesus traveled all through Galilee. He preached in their synagogues and sent demons out of people.

40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

40A man with leprosy, a bad skin disease, came to Jesus. He knelt down and begged, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Note"Clean" here means healed. It also meant the man was allowed to be around other people again.

41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

41Jesus felt sorry for him. He reached out his hand and touched the man. He said, "I am willing. Be clean."

42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

42Right away the leprosy left the man. He was clean and well.

43And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

43Jesus sent him away at once and warned him strongly.

44And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

44Jesus said, "Do not tell anyone about this. Go and show yourself to the priest. Bring the gift Moses said to bring when someone is made clean. That will show them you are well."

45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

45But the man went out and told everyone. He spread the news everywhere. So Jesus could not walk into a town openly anymore. He stayed outside in quiet, empty places, and people still came to him from everywhere.