Matthew 9

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

1Jesus got into a boat. He crossed the water 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 man who could not move his body. The man lay on a mat. Jesus saw that these men trusted him. He said to the sick man, "Cheer up, son. Your sins are forgiven."

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

3Some scribes were there. Scribes were men who copied and taught God's laws. They said inside 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 bad 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 something. The Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth. The Son of Man was the name Jesus used for himself." Then he said to the sick man, "Get up. Pick up your mat. Go home."

7And he arose, and departed to his house.

7So the man got up and went home.

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

8The crowds saw this and were filled with wonder. 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.

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

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 in the house. Many tax collectors and sinners came too. They sat and ate with Jesus and his followers.

NoteThe KJV calls them "publicans." These were men who collected taxes for the Romans. Many people did not like them.

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

11The Pharisees saw this. The Pharisees were a group who kept the rules very strictly. They asked his followers, "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 these words mean: 'I want mercy, not gifts on an altar.' I did not come to call people who are already good. 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 the followers of John came to Jesus. They asked, "We and the Pharisees often go without food to pray. Why do your followers not do that?"

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, "Guests at a wedding are not sad while the groom is with them. But a day is coming when the groom will be taken away. 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 on an old coat. The new piece pulls away from the old cloth. Then the hole is even worse.

NoteIn Jesus' day, new cloth had not been washed yet. When it got wet it would shrink and pull the old cloth apart.

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 skin bags. The old bags would burst. The wine would spill out, and the bags would be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new bags. Then both are kept safe."

NoteThe KJV says "bottles," but these were bags made from animal skin. New wine bubbles as it changes, so it stretches the bag.

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 to him. The man knelt down and said, "My daughter has just died. But please come and put your hand on her. Then she will live."

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

19So Jesus got up and went with him. His followers went 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 was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She came up behind Jesus. She touched the edge of his coat.

NoteThe KJV says "the hem of his garment." This was the edge or fringe of the long coat Jesus wore.

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

21She said to herself, "If I only 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. You trusted me, and now you are well." From that moment the woman was well.

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 to them, "Go away. 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.

25The crowd was sent outside. Then Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand. She got up.

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

26The news about this spread all over that part of the country.

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

27Jesus left that place. Two blind men followed him and called out. They said, "Son of David, please help 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.

28Jesus went into the house, and the blind men came to him. Jesus asked them, "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. He said, "Because you believe, let it happen for you."

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

30And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them firmly, "Do not let anyone find out about this."

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

31But they went out and told about Jesus all over that country.

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

32As they were leaving, some people brought a man to Jesus. He could not speak, and a demon was in him.

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

33The demon was sent out, and the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. They 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 sends 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 to all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places. He told the good news about God's kingdom. He healed every sickness and every 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.

36He saw the crowds and felt deep pity for them. They were worn out and had no one to help. They were like sheep with no shepherd.

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

37Then he said to his followers, "There is a big harvest of grain 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 Lord of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in."