Loyalty, Redemption, and the Kingdom's Future

1. In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2. The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and lived there. 3. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4. They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years. 5. Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband. 6. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread. 7. She went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her. They went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8. Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9. May Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices, and wept. 10. They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.” 11. Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12. Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons; 13. would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me.” 14. They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her. 15. She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.” 16. Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. 17. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18. When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 19. So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?” 20. She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21. I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. 1. Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2. Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3. She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4. Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.” 5. Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?” 6. The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 7. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.” 8. Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9. Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.” 10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11. Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. 12. May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 13. Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.” 14. At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left some of it. 15. When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her. 16. Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.” 17. So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18. She took it up, and went into the city. Then her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she had enough. 19. Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.” She told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20. Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.” 21. Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men, until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22. Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.” 23. So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law. 1. Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2. Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor. 3. Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor, but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4. It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lay down. Then he will tell you what to do.” 5. She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.” 6. She went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her. 7. When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid down. 8. At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9. He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.” 10. He said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11. Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman. 12. Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13. Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives. Lie down until the morning.” 14. She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15. He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; then he went into the city. 16. When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her. 17. She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’” 18. Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know what will happen; for the man will not rest until he has settled this today.” 1. Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. He said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down. 2. He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here,” and they sat down. 3. He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s. 4. I thought I should tell you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem it besides you; and I am after you.” He said, “I will redeem it.” 5. Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” 6. The near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.” 7. Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel. 8. So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his shoe. 9. Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” 11. All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which both built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem. 12. Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.” 13. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and Yahweh enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son. 14. The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel. 15. He shall be to you a restorer of life, and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16. Naomi took the child, and laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to it. 17. The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18. Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, 19. and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab, 20. and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon, 21. and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, 22. and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

1. Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2. He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3. He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6. When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9. For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” 11. When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. 12. While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13. He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 15. But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed. 17. On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18. Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19. Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. 20. Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21. The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22. But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23. Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ 24. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25. Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26. Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.” 27. After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!” 28. He left everything, and rose up and followed him. 29. Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. 30. Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31. Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 33. They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” 34. He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.” 36. He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. 37. No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38. But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved. 39. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” 1. Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” 3. Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; 4. how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” 5. He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6. It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 8. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up, and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. 9. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” 10. He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. 11. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus. 12. In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14. Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15. Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16. Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 17. He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18. as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 19. All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. 20. He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours. 21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22. Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. 24. “But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25. Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26. Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. 27. “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28. bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30. Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. 31. “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 32. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36. “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. 37. Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. 38. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 39. He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41. Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42. Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 43. For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 46. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? 47. Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49. But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” 1. After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2. A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3. When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4. When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5. for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6. Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7. Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8. For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10. Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well. 11. Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12. Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14. He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15. He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16. Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17. This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region. 18. The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19. John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20. When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’” 21. In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22. Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” 24. When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25. But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 27. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28. “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.” 29. When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves. 31. “To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like? 32. They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33. For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35. Wisdom is justified by all her children.” 36. One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. 37. Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38. Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” 40. Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.” 41. “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?” 43. Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44. Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45. You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48. He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49. Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50. He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” 1. Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve, 2. and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3. and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions. 4. When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable. 5. “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6. Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7. Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. 8. Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 9. Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10. He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12. Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. 13. Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation. 14. That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15. Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance. 16. “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. 17. For nothing is hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light. 18. Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.” 19. His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20. Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.” 21. But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it.” 22. Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23. But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. 24. They came to him, and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we are dying!” He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it was calm. 25. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” 26. They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27. When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs. 28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” 29. For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert. 30. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him. 31. They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. 32. Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. He allowed them. 33. The demons came out of the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. 34. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. 35. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36. Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. 37. All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. He entered into the boat, and returned. 38. But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39. “Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. 40. When Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41. Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet, and begged him to come into his house, 42. for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. 43. A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any, 44. came behind him, and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped. 45. Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 46. But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.” 47. When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48. He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” 49. While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.” 50. But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.” 51. When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. 52. All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.” 53. They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. 54. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” 55. Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. 56. Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

1. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!” 2. Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem; 3. Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together; 4. where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name. 5. For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. 7. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. 8. For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9. For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.