Matthew

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

1Jesus got into a boat, crossed the lake, and came to his own town.

2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

2Some men brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw that they trusted him, he said to the man, "Cheer up, son. Your sins are forgiven."

Note"Sick of the palsy" means paralyzed. The man could not move his body or walk.

3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

3Some of the scribes, the men who studied and taught the law, thought to themselves, "This man is insulting God."

4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

4Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?

5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

5Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get up and walk'?

6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

6But I want you to know that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth." Then he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your mat, and go home."

7And he arose, and departed to his house.

7The man got up and went home.

8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

8When the crowds saw it, they were amazed. They praised God for giving such power to people.

9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

9As Jesus walked on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. Jesus said, "Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him.

NoteA tax booth was a stand where a man collected taxes for Rome. The KJV calls such men "publicans." Many people hated them, because they worked for the foreign rulers and often took extra money.

10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

10Later Jesus was eating a meal at the house. Many tax collectors and other people known as sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

12Jesus heard them and said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor. Sick people do.

13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

13Go and learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifices.' I did not come to call good people. I came to call sinners to turn back to God."

14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

14Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "We and the Pharisees go without food to pray. Why don't your disciples?"

15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

15Jesus answered, "Can the groom's friends be sad while he is still with them? But the day will come when the groom is taken away from them. Then they will go without food.

16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

16No one sews a piece of new cloth onto an old coat. The new patch shrinks and pulls away, and the tear gets worse.

17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

17People do not pour new wine into old leather bags. The bags would split, the wine would spill, and the bags would be ruined. New wine goes into new bags, and both are kept safe."

NoteThe KJV says "bottles," but these were bags made from animal skin. New skins stretched as the wine bubbled; old ones had already stretched and would split.

18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

18While Jesus was saying this, a leader came and knelt in front of him. He said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."

19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

19So Jesus got up and went with him, and his disciples came too.

20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

20A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the edge of his coat.

21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

21She said to herself, "If I can just touch his coat, I will be well."

22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

22Jesus turned around and saw her. He said, "Cheer up, daughter. Your faith has made you well." And the woman was well from that moment on.

23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

23Jesus came into the leader's house. He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.

24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

24He said, "Go outside. The girl is not dead. She is asleep." And they laughed at him.

25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

25After the crowd was sent outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

26The news about this spread through that whole area.

27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

27As Jesus walked on from there, two blind men followed him. They called out, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"

28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

28When Jesus went into the house, the blind men came to him. He asked, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, Lord."

29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

29Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen for you just as you have believed."

30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

30And they could see. Jesus warned them firmly, "Make sure no one finds out about this."

31But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

31But when they left, they spread the news about him all over that area.

32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

32As they were going out, some people brought Jesus a man who could not speak because a demon controlled him.

NoteThe KJV word "dumb" here means unable to speak. It does not mean unintelligent.

33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

33When the demon was driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

34But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the power of the ruler of demons."

35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, announced the good news of the kingdom, and healed every sickness and disease.

36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

36When he saw the crowds, he felt deep pity for them. They were worn down and helpless, like sheep with no shepherd to lead them.

37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

37He said to his disciples, "The crop is large and ready, but there are only a few workers.

38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

38So ask the owner of the harvest to send out workers to bring in his crop."