Mark 2

King James Version

1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Mark 2

New International Reader’s Version

1 A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home.2 So many people gathered that there was no room left. There was not even room outside the door. And Jesus preached the word to them.3 Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk.4 But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole by digging through the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat.5 Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’6 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking,7 ‘Why is this fellow talking like that? He’s saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!’8 Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things?9 Is it easier to say to this man, “Your sins are forgiven”? Or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”?10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk.11 ‘I tell you,’ he said, ‘get up. Take your mat and go home.’12 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’13 Once again Jesus went out beside the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd came to him. He began to teach them.14 As he walked along he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me’, Jesus told him. Levi got up and followed him.15 Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples. They were part of the large crowd following Jesus.16 Some teachers of the law who were Pharisees were there. They saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors. So they asked his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’17 Jesus heard that. So he said to them, ‘Those who are healthy don’t need a doctor. Ill people do. I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.’18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were going without eating. Some people came to Jesus. They said to him, ‘John’s disciples are fasting. The disciples of the Pharisees are also fasting. But your disciples are not. Why aren’t they?’19 Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the groom go without eating while he is with them? They will not fast as long as he is with them.20 But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. On that day they will go without eating.21 ‘No one sews a patch of new cloth on old clothes. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old. That will make the tear worse.22 No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins. Then the wine and the wineskins will both be destroyed. No, people pour new wine into new wineskins.’23 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking with his disciples through the cornfields. The disciples began to break off some ears of corn.24 The Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Look! It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath day. Why are your disciples doing it?’25 He answered, ‘Haven’t you ever read about what David did? He and his men were hungry. They needed food.26 It was when Abiathar was high priest. David entered the house of God and ate the holy bread. Only priests were allowed to eat it. David also gave some to his men.’27 Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath day was made for man. Man was not made for the Sabbath day.28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.’