Matthew 17

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

1Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. John was James's brother. Jesus led them up a high mountain, away from other people.

2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

2There Jesus changed right in front of them. His face shone like the sun. His clothes turned as white as light.

3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

3All at once, Moses and Elijah were there. They were talking with Jesus.

NoteThe KJV writes the name as "Elias." That is the Greek spelling of Elijah, the prophet from long before, someone who told people what God said.

4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

5While Peter was still talking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. He makes me very glad. Listen to him!"

6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

6When his followers, called disciples, heard the voice, they fell with their faces to the ground. They were very afraid.

7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

7Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up. Do not be afraid."

8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

8They looked up. They saw no one there but Jesus.

9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

9As they walked down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They should wait until the Son of Man rose from the dead. Jesus called himself the Son of Man.

10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

10His followers asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Scribes were teachers who studied and copied God's laws.

11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

11Jesus answered, "It is true. Elijah does come first, and he puts everything right again."

12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

12"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. They did to him whatever they wanted. They will hurt the Son of Man in the same way."

13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

13Then his followers understood. Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

14When they came back to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus. He knelt down in front of him and said,

15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

15"Lord, please help my son. His body shakes, and he suffers very much. He often falls into fire or into water."

NoteThe KJV says the boy was "lunatick, and sore vexed." In 1611 that described someone whose body shook and jerked, what we now call seizures. It did not mean he was crazy.

16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

16"I brought him to your followers, but they could not make him well."

17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

17Jesus said, "You people do not trust God, and you choose what is wrong. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."

18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

18Jesus spoke firmly to the evil spirit, and it came out of the boy. The boy was well from that moment on.

19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

19Later, his followers came to Jesus alone. They asked, "Why could we not make it come out?"

20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

20Jesus told them, "Because you trusted so little. Faith means trusting God. I tell you the truth. If your faith is even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move over there.' And it will move. Nothing will be too hard for you."

21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

21"But this kind only comes out when you pray and go without food."

ManuscriptsMost modern translations leave this verse out. It is in the Greek text the King James translators worked from, but not in the older manuscripts found since, so scholars generally take it as a copyist’s addition rather than part of the original.

22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

22While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man will be handed over to people who want to hurt him."

23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

23"They will kill him. On the third day he will be raised to life again." His followers were very sad.

24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

24Then they came to the town of Capernaum. The men who collected the temple tax came to Peter. They asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

25He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

25Peter said, "Yes, he does." Then Peter went into the house. Jesus spoke first and said, "What do you think, Simon? Kings collect taxes from people. Do they take the money from their own sons, or from other people?"

NoteThe KJV says Jesus "prevented" Peter. In 1611 "prevent" meant to go first or speak first, not to stop someone.

26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

26Peter said, "From other people." Jesus said, "Then the sons do not have to pay."

27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

27"But we do not want to upset them. Go to the lake and throw in a hook. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for my tax and yours."

NoteThe coin in the fish's mouth was worth exactly two temple taxes, enough for Jesus and Peter together.