Matthew 12

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.	1 At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.	2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;	3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?	4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?	5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.	6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.	7 If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned these innocent men.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.	8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:	9 Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue.
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.	10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?	11 He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.	12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath."
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.	13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.	14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;	15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all,
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:	16 but he warned them not to make him known.
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,	17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.	18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.	19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.	20 A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.	21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.	22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute. He cured the mute person so that he could speak and see.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?	23 All the crowd was astounded, and said, "Could this perhaps be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.	24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons."
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:	25 But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?	26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.	27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.	28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.	29 How can anyone enter a strong man's house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.	30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.	31 Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.	32 And 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 his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.	33 "Either declare the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.	34 You brood of vipers, how can you say good things when you are evil? For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.	35 A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.	36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.	37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.	38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:	39 He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.	40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.	41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.	42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.	43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.	44 Then it says, 'I will return to my home from which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.	45 Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation."
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.	46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.	47 (Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.")
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?	48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!	49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.	50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."