Luke 5

King James Version

1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Luke 5

New International Reader’s Version

1 One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee. The people crowded around him and listened to the word of God.2 Jesus saw two boats at the edge of the water. They had been left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.3 He got into the boat that belonged to Simon. Jesus asked him to go out a little way from shore. Then he sat down in the boat and taught the people.4 When he finished speaking, he turned to Simon. Jesus said, ‘Go out into deep water. Let down the nets so you can catch some fish.’5 Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’6 When they had done so, they caught a large number of fish. There were so many that their nets began to break.7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. ‘Go away from me, Lord!’ he said. ‘I am a sinful man!’9 He and everyone with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught.10 So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who worked with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.’11 So they pulled their boats up on shore. Then they left everything and followed him.12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along. He had a skin disease all over his body. When he saw Jesus, the man fell with his face to the ground. He begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing to make me “clean”, you can do it.’13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing to do it,’ he said. ‘Be “clean”!’ Right away the disease left him.14 Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone. Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are “clean”. ’15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. So crowds of people came to hear him. They also came to be healed of their diseases.16 But Jesus often went away to be by himself and pray.17 One day Jesus was teaching. Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. They heard that the Lord had given Jesus the power to heal those who were ill.18 So some men came carrying a man who could not walk. He was lying on a mat. They tried to take him into the house to place him in front of Jesus.19 They could not find a way to do this because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. Then they lowered the man on his mat through the opening in the roof tiles. They lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.20 When Jesus saw that they had faith, he spoke to the man. He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to think, ‘Who is this fellow who says such an evil thing? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’22 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?23 Is it easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven”? Or to say, “Get up and walk”?24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he spoke to the man who could not walk. ‘I tell you,’ he said, ‘get up. Take your mat and go home.’25 Right away, the man stood up in front of them. He took his mat and went home praising God.26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with wonder. They said, ‘We have seen unusual things today.’27 After this, Jesus left the house. He saw a tax collector sitting at the tax booth. The man’s name was Levi. ‘Follow me’, Jesus said to him.28 Levi got up, left everything and followed him.29 Then Levi gave a huge banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of the law complained to Jesus’ disciples. They said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’31 Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor. Ill people do.32 I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to turn away from their sins.’33 Some of the people who were there said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples often pray and go without eating. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours go on eating and drinking.’34 Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the groom fast while he is with them?35 But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. In those days they will go without eating.’36 Then Jesus gave them an example. He said, ‘No one tears a piece out of new clothes to patch old clothes. Otherwise, they will tear the new clothes. Also, the patch from the new clothes will not match the old clothes.37 No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins. The wine will run out, and the wineskins will be destroyed.38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.39 After drinking old wine, no one wants the new. They say, “The old wine is better.” ’