Matthew 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 He got back in the boat, crossed the water and came to his home town.	1 He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town.
2 And suddenly some people brought him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesussaid to the paralytic, 'Take comfort, my child, your sins are forgiven.'	2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
3 And now some scribes said to themselves, 'This man is being blasphemous.'	3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
4 Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, 'Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts?	4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
5 Now, which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"?	5 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
6 But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' -- then he said to theparalytic-'get up, pick up your bed and go off home.'	6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
7 And the man got up and went home.	7 He rose and went home.
8 A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for having given suchauthority to human beings.	8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.
9 As Jesus was walking on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he saidto him, 'Fol ow me.' And he got up and followed him.	9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
10 Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax col ectors and sinners cameto sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples.	10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your master eat with tax col ectorsand sinners?'	11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
12 When he heard this he replied, 'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.	12 He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
13 Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came tocal not the upright, but sinners.'	13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
14 Then John's disciples came to him and said, 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but yourdisciples do not?'	14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast (much), but your disciples do not fast?"
15 Jesus replied, 'Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is stil withthem? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they wil fast.	15 Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pul s away from thecloak and the tear gets worse.	16 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and theskins are lost. No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'	17 People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."
18 While he was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials came up, who bowed low in front of himand said, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.'	18 While he was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."
19 Jesus rose and, with his disciples, fol owed him.	19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage fortwelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak,	20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.
21 for she was thinking, 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.'	21 She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."
22 Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.'And from that moment the woman was saved.	22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured.
23 When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making acommotion, he said,	23 When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
24 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' And they ridiculed him.	24 he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping." And they ridiculed him.
25 But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up.	25 When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.
26 And the news of this spread al round the countryside.	26 And news of this spread throughout all that land.
27 As Jesus went on his way two blind men fol owed him shouting, 'Take pity on us, son of David.'	27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed (him), crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!"
28 And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, 'Do youbelieve I can do this?' They said, 'Lord, we do.'	28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him.
29 Then he touched their eyes saying, 'According to your faith, let it be done to you.'	29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith."
30 And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, 'Take care that no one learns about this.'	30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."
31 But when they had gone away, they talked about him al over the countryside.	31 But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
32 They had only just left when suddenly a man was brought to him, a dumb demoniac.	32 As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him,
33 And when the devil was driven out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed and said,'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'	33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, 'It is through the prince of devils that he drives out devils.'	34 But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
35 Jesus made a tour through al the towns and vil ages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming thegood news of the kingdom and curing al kinds of disease and al kinds of il ness.	35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.
36 And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, likesheep without a shepherd.	36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of theharvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'	37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
	38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."