New King James Version

English Standard Version

1So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,

2and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.

2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

3Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

5And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;

9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

10and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

11So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

12And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

13Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

13And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

14And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

15However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

15But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

16So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

16But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

17Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

17On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

18Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.

18And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,

19And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

20When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

20And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?

23Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

23Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

24But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

25Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

25And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

26And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

27After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.”

27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”

28So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

30And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

31And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

33Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

33And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”

34And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

34And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

35The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

36Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.

36He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.

37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.

37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.

38But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

39And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.