Matthew 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain 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 Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, “Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths.”	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 to them: “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who 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 the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who 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 you not read in the law, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt?	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 to you, that something greater than the temple is here.	6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
7 And if you knew what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would never have condemned the innocent.	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.”	8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."
9 And when he had passed from there, he went into their synagogues.	9 Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they questioned him, so that they might accuse him, saying, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbaths?”	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 But he said to them: “Who is there among you, having even one sheep, if it will have fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and lift it up?	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 better is a man than a sheep? And so, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths.”	12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath."
13 Then he said to the man, “Extend your hand.” And he extended it, and it was restored to health, just like the other one.	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, departing, took council against him, as to how they might destroy him.	14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.
15 But Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he cured them all.	15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all,
16 And he instructed them, lest they make him known.	16 but he warned them not to make him known.
17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, 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 place my Spirit over him, and he shall announce judgment to the nations.	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 contend, nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets.	19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 He shall not crush the bruised reed, and he shall not extinguish the smoking wick, until he sends 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 the Gentiles shall hope in his name.”	21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22 Then one who had a demon, who was blind and mute, was brought to him. And he cured him, so that he spoke 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 crowds were stupefied, and they said, “Could this be the son of David?”	23 All the crowd was astounded, and said, "Could this perhaps be the Son of David?"
24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.”	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 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate. And every city or house divided against itself will 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 So if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided against himself. How then will 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 cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons 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 demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among 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 how can anyone enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his belongings, unless he first restrains the strong man? And then he will plunder 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 Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters.	30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31 For this reason, I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.	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 anyone who will have spoken a word against the Son of man shall be forgiven. But whoever will have spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age, nor in the future age.	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 its fruit good, or make the tree evil and its fruit evil. For certainly a tree is known by its 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 Progeny of vipers, how are you able to speak good things while you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.	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 offers good things from a good storehouse. And an evil man offers evil things from an evil storehouse.	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 to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account 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 your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned.”	37 By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”	38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
39 And answering, he said to them: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.	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 just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.	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 arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah 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 arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon 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 Now when an unclean spirit departs from a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he does not find it.	43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none.
44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed’. And arriving, he finds it vacant, swept clean, and decorated.	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 he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and live there. And in the end, the man becomes worse than he was at first. So, too, shall it be with this most 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 was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, seeking 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 And someone said to him: “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking you.”	47 (Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.")
48 But responding to the one speaking to him, he said, “Which one is my mother, and who are my brothers?”	48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 And extending his hand to his disciples, he said: “Behold: my mother and my brothers.	49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For anyone who does the will of my Father, who 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."