International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1At that time, Jesus walked through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples became hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat.

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

2When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

3But he told them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

4How is it that he went into the house of God and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him and his companions to eat but was reserved for the priests?

4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

5Or haven't you read in the Law that on every Sabbath the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?

5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

6But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here!

6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

7If you had known what 'I want mercy and not sacrifice' means, you would not have condemned the innocent,

7And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

8for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue.

9He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

10Suddenly, a man with a paralyzed hand appeared. The people asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on Sabbath days, intending to accuse him of doing something wrong.

10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

11But he asked them, "Is there a man among you who, if he had one sheep and it fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't take hold of it and pull it out?

11He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

12How much more is a human being worth than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbath days."

12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out and it became normal, as healthy as his other hand.

13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

14The Pharisees, however, went out and plotted against Jesus to kill him.

14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15When Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds followed him, and he healed all of them,

15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all

16ordering them not to make him known.

16and ordered them not to make him known.

17This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18"Here is my Servant whom I have chosen, whom I love, and with whom I am pleased! I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to unbelievers.

18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19He will not quarrel or shout, and no one will hear him shouting in the streets.

19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

20He will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory.

20a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;

21And in his name unbelievers will hope."

21and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to talk was brought to him. Jesus healed him so that the man could speak and see.

22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.

23All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, "This man isn't the Son of David, is he?"

23And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."

24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

25He knew what they were thinking and told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

26So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom stand?

26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

27If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges!

27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29How can someone go into a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then he can ransack his house.

29Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

30The person who isn't with me is against me, and the person who isn't gathering with me is scattering.

30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

31So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come."

32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit.

33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

34You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart.

34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

35A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house.

35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

36I tell you, on Judgment Day people will give an account for every thoughtless word they have uttered,

36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

37because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

39But he replied to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah,

39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here!

41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

42The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today, because she came from so far away to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!"

42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

43"Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless places looking for a place to rest, but finds none.

43“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

44Then it says, 'I will go back to my home that I left.' When it arrives, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.

44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That's just what will happen to this evil generation!"

45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

47Someone told him, "Look! Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you."

47

48He asked the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

49Then pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers,

49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

50because whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.