Mark 6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

1Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples, his close followers, went with him.

2And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

2On the Sabbath, the day of rest, Jesus taught in the synagogue, the place where people met to worship. Many who heard him were very surprised. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has he been given? How can he do such powerful things?"

3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

3"Isn't this the carpenter, the man who builds things from wood? Isn't he Mary's son? Isn't he the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Don't his sisters live right here with us?" So they would not accept him.

4But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

4Jesus said to them, "A prophet, someone who tells people what God says, is honored everywhere. But he is not honored in his own town, or by his own family, or in his own house."

5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

5So he could not do any powerful miracles there. He only put his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

6He was amazed that they would not believe. Then he went from village to village, teaching the people.

7And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

7Jesus called his twelve chosen helpers to him. He began to send them out two at a time. He gave them power over evil spirits.

8And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

8He told them to take nothing for the trip but a walking stick. No bag, no bread, and no money in their belts.

9But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

9They could wear sandals on their feet. But they were not to take a second shirt.

10And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

10He said to them, "When you go into a house, stay there until you leave that town."

11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

11"Some places will not welcome you or listen to you. When you leave, shake the dust off your feet. That shows they turned you away. I tell you the truth. On the day God judges people, it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah, two towns God punished long ago, than for that town."

12And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

12So they went out. They told people to turn away from their sins.

13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

13They drove out many demons. They rubbed olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

14And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

14King Herod heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. People were saying, "John the Baptist, the man who baptized people in the river, is alive again. That is why he can do these powerful things."

15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

15Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like the prophets long ago."

16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

16But when Herod heard it, he said, "It is John. I had his head cut off. He is alive again."

17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

17Herod himself had sent men to arrest John. They tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, and Herod had married her.

18For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

18John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have your brother's wife."

19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

19So Herodias hated John and wanted him killed. But she was not able to do it.

20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

20Herod was afraid of John. He knew John was a good and holy man, so he kept him safe. John's words upset him, and still he liked to listen to him.

21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

21At last the right day came for Herodias. On his birthday, Herod gave a big dinner. He invited his leaders, his army officers, and the important men of Galilee.

22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

22The daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and the guests eating with him. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want. I will give it to you."

23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

23He made a strong promise to her. "Whatever you ask me for, I will give you, even half my kingdom."

24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

24She went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the Baptist."

25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

25The girl hurried straight back to the king. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate, right now."

NoteThe KJV says "in a charger" and "by and by." A charger was a large serving plate, and "by and by" in 1611 English meant right now, not later.

26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

26The king was very sad. But he had made a promise in front of his guests. So he would not say no to her.

27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

27Right away the king sent a soldier and told him to bring John's head. The man went and cut off John's head in the prison.

28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

28He brought the head on a big plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother.

29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

29John's followers heard what had happened. They came and took his body and laid it in a tomb, a grave cut in rock.

30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

30The twelve helpers Jesus had sent out came back to him. They told him everything they had done and taught.

31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

31Jesus said to them, "Come away with me to a quiet place. Let's rest a while." So many people were coming and going. Jesus and his helpers did not even have time to eat.

32And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

32So they went away by boat to a quiet place, just by themselves.

33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

33But many people saw them leave, and they knew who they were. They ran on foot from all the towns and got there first.

34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

34When Jesus stepped off the boat, he saw the big crowd. He felt sorry for them. They were like sheep with no shepherd to lead them. So he began to teach them many things.

35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

35By now it was getting late. His disciples came to him and said, "This place is empty, and it is already late."

36Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

36"Send the people away. Then they can go to the farms and villages and buy food. They have nothing to eat."

37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

37Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend two hundred days' pay on bread to feed them?"

NoteThe KJV says "two hundred pennyworth." That was two hundred silver coins, and one coin was about a day's pay for a worker.

38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

38He said to them, "How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see." They checked and said, "Five loaves, and two fish."

39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

39Then Jesus told them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

40So they sat down in rows, in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty.

41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

41Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to hand out. He also shared the two fish with everyone.

42And they did all eat, and were filled.

42They all ate, and they all had plenty.

43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

43Then the disciples picked up the leftover bread and fish. They filled twelve baskets.

44And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

44About five thousand men ate the bread that day.

45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

45Right away Jesus made his disciples get into the boat. They were to go ahead of him to Bethsaida. He stayed behind to send the crowd home.

46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

46After he said goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray.

47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

47When evening came, the boat was out in the middle of the lake. Jesus was alone on the land.

48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

48He saw them working hard to row, because the wind was blowing against them. Very early in the morning, he came to them, walking on the water. He was going to walk right past them.

NoteThe KJV says "the fourth watch of the night." People then split the night into four parts, and this one ran from about three until six in the morning.

49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

49But they saw him walking on the water. They thought he was a ghost, and they cried out.

50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

50They all saw him, and they were very afraid. Jesus spoke to them at once. He said, "Be brave. It is I. Don't be afraid."

51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

51He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. They were so amazed they could hardly believe it.

52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

52They still did not understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Their hearts were closed.

53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

53They crossed the lake and came to the land of Gennesaret. There they tied up the boat.

54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

54As soon as they stepped out of the boat, the people knew who Jesus was.

55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

55They ran all through that whole area. They carried sick people on mats to wherever they heard Jesus was.

56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

56Everywhere he went, into villages, towns, or farms, people laid the sick in the market places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his coat. And everyone who touched him was made well.