Mark 2

Jesus heals a paralytic lowered through the roof, forgiving his sins and proving His authority by the miracle. He calls Levi the tax collector, eats with sinners, and defends His disciples when the Pharisees question them about fasting and plucking grain on the Sabbath.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.	After some days He returned to Capernaum, and word spread 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.	So many people gathered that there was no room left, not even at the door. He preached the word to them.
3	And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.	Some men came, bringing a paralyzed man carried by four of them.
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.	They could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they made an opening in the roof above Him. They broke through and lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man lay.
5	When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.	When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, "Son, Your sins are forgiven."
6	But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,	Some scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts:
7	Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?	"Why does this man speak like this? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
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?	Jesus knew in His spirit that they were reasoning this way within themselves. He said to them, "Why are You reasoning 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?	Which is easier — to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take Your mat, 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,)	So that You may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins — He said to the paralyzed man:
11	I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.	"I tell You, get up, take Your mat, and go home."
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.	At once the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of everyone. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
13	And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.	Jesus went out again along the seashore. The whole crowd came to 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.	As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. He said to Him, "Follow Me." Levi got up 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.	Jesus was reclining at table in Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who 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?	When the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors 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.	Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick do. I did not come 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?	The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
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.	Jesus said to them, "Can the guests at a wedding 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.	The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them. Then they will 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.	No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If He does, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth and the tear becomes 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.	No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the skins are ruined. New wine must be poured into new wineskins.
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.	One Sabbath Jesus was walking through the grain fields, and His disciples began to pick heads of grain as they went.
24	And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?	The Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
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?	He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry — he and those who 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?	He entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. He also gave some to His companions.
27	And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:	He also said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
28	Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.	Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.