The Good News According to Loukas

^1:1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, ^1:2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, ^1:3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; ^1:4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

^1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Yehudah, a certain kohen named Zekharyah, of the priestly division of Aviyah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. ^1:6They were both righteous before G-d, walking blamelessly in all the mitzvot and ordinances of the Lord. ^1:7But they had no child, because Elisheva was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. ^1:8Now it happened, while he executed the kohen's office before G-d in the order of his division, ^1:9according to the custom of the kohen's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ^1:10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

^1:11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ^1:12Zekharyah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ^1:13But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zekharyah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan. ^1:14You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. ^1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ^1:16He will turn many of the children of Yisra'el to the Lord, their G-d. ^1:17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Eliyah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

^1:18Zekharyah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

^1:19The angel answered him, "I am Gavri'el, who stands in the presence of G-d. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. ^1:20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

^1:21The people were waiting for Zekharyah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. ^1:22When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. ^1:23It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. ^1:24After these days Elisheva, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, ^1:25"Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

^1:26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gavri'el was sent from G-d to a city of the Galil, named Natzeret, ^1:27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Yosef, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Miryam. ^1:28Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

^1:29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. ^1:30The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with G-d. ^1:31Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Yeshua.' ^1:32He will be great, and will be called the Son of Ha`Elyon. The Lord G-d will give him the throne of his father, David, <sup>1:33</sup>and he will reign over the house of Ya`akov forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

^1:34Miryam said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

^1:35The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of Ha`Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of G-d. ^1:36Behold, Elisheva, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ^1:37For everything spoken by G-d is possible."

^1:38Miryam said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word."

The angel departed from her. ^1:39Miryam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Yehudah, ^1:40and entered into the house of Zekharyah and greeted Elisheva. ^1:41It happened, when Elisheva heard Miryam's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elisheva was filled with the Holy Spirit. ^1:42She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ^1:43Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ^1:44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! ^1:45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

^1:46Miryam said,

 "My soul magnifies the Lord.
      ^1:47My spirit has rejoiced in G-d my Savior,
      ^1:48For he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid.

 For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
      ^1:49For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
      Holy is his name.
      ^1:50His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

 ^1:51He has shown strength with his arm.
      He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

 ^1:52He has put down princes from their thrones.
      And has exalted the lowly.

 ^1:53He has filled the hungry with good things.
      He has sent the rich away empty.

 ^1:54He has given help to Yisra'el, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
      ^1:55As he spoke to our fathers,
      To Avraham and his seed forever."

^1:56Miryam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house. ^1:57Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son. ^1:58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. ^1:59It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zekharyah, after the name of the father. ^1:60His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called Yochanan."

^1:61They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." ^1:62They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

^1:63He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is Yochanan."

They all marveled. ^1:64His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing G-d. ^1:65Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Yehudah. ^1:66All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him. ^1:67His father, Zekharyah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

 ^1:68"Blessed be the Lord, the G-d of Yisra'el,
      For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

 ^1:69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
      ^1:70(As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
      ^1:71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

 ^1:72To show mercy towards our fathers,
      To remember his holy covenant,

 ^1:73The oath which he spoke to Avraham, our father,
      ^1:74To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
      ^1:75In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

 ^1:76And you, child, will be called a prophet of Ha`Elyon,
      For you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,
      ^1:77To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

 ^1:78Because of the tender mercy of our G-d,
      Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
      ^1:79To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
      To guide our feet into the way of shalom."

^1:80The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Yisra'el.

^2:1Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. ^2:2This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Aram. ^2:3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. ^2:4Yosef also went up from the Galil, out of the city of Natzeret, into Yehudah, to the city of David, which is called Beit-Lechem, because he was of the house and family of David; ^2:5to enroll himself with Miryam, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

^2:6It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. ^2:7She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. ^2:8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. ^2:9Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ^2:10The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. ^2:11For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord. ^2:12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." ^2:13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising G-d, and saying,

 ^2:14"Glory to G-d in the highest,
      On earth shalom, good will toward men."

^2:15It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Beit-Lechem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ^2:16They came with haste, and found both Miryam and Yosef, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. ^2:17When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. ^2:18All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. ^2:19But Miryam kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. ^2:20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising G-d for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

^2:21When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

^2:22When the days of their purification according to the law of Moshe were fulfilled, they brought him up to Yerushalayim, to present him to the Lord ^2:23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), ^2:24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

^2:25Behold, there was a man in Yerushalayim whose name was Shim`on. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Yisra'el, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ^2:26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. ^2:27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, ^2:28then he received him into his arms, and blessed G-d, and said,

 ^2:29"Now you are releasing your servant, Master,
      According to your word, in shalom;

 ^2:30For my eyes have seen your yeshu`ah,
      ^2:31Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

 ^2:32A light for revelation to the Goyim,
      And the glory of your people Yisra'el."

^2:33Yosef and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, ^2:34and Shim`on blessed them, and said to Miryam, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Yisra'el, and for a sign which is spoken against. ^2:35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

^2:36There was one Chanah, a prophetess, the daughter of Penu'el, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ^2:37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. ^2:38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Yerushalayim.

^2:39When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into the Galil, to their own city, Natzeret. ^2:40The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of G-d was upon him. ^2:41His parents went every year to Yerushalayim at the feast of the Pesach.

^2:42When he was twelve years old, they went up to Yerushalayim according to the custom of the feast, ^2:43and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Yeshua stayed behind in Yerushalayim. Yosef and his mother didn't know it, ^2:44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ^2:45When they didn't find him, they returned to Yerushalayim, looking for him. ^2:46It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. ^2:47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ^2:48When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

^2:49He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" ^2:50They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them. ^2:51And he went down with them, and came to Natzeret. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ^2:52And Yeshua increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with G-d and men.

^3:1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Yehudah, and Herod being tetrarch of the Galil, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ^3:2in the kohanim gedolim of Anan and Kayafa, the word of G-d came to Yochanan, the son of Zekharyah, in the wilderness. ^3:3He came into all the region around the Yarden, preaching the immersion of repentance for remission of sins. ^3:4As it is written in the book of the words of Yesha`yahu the prophet,

 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
      'Make ready the way of the Lord.

 Make his paths straight.
      ^3:5Every valley will be filled.

 Every mountain and hill will be brought low.
      The crooked will become straight,
      And the rough ways smooth.

 ^3:6All flesh will see G-d's salvation.'"

^3:7He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be immersed by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^3:8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Avraham for our father;' for I tell you that G-d is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones! ^3:9Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

^3:10The multitudes asked him, "What then must we do?"

^3:11He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."

^3:12Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"

^3:13He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."

^3:14Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?"

He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."

^3:15As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he was the Messiah, ^3:16Yochanan answered them all, "I indeed immerse you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire, ^3:17whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

^3:18Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, ^3:19but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, ^3:20added this also to them all, that he shut up Yochanan in prison. ^3:21Now it happened, when all the people were immersed, Yeshua also had been immersed, and was praying. The sky was opened, ^3:22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."

^3:23Yeshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Yosef, the son of Eli, ^3:24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Malki, the son of Yannai, the son of Yosef, ^3:25the son of Mattityahu, the son of `Amos, the son of Nachum, the son of Chesli, the son of Naggai, <sup>3:26</sup>the son of Machat, the son of Mattityahu, the son of Shim`i, the son of Yosef, the son of Yehudah, ^3:27the son of Yochanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbavel, the son of She'alti'el, the son of Neri, ^3:28the son of Malki, the son of Addi, the son of Kosam, the son of Elmadan, the son of `Er, <sup>3:29</sup>the son of Yeshua, the son of Eli`ezer, the son of Yoram, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ^3:30the son of Shim`on, the son of Yehudah, the son of Yosef, the son of Yonam, the son of Elyakim, <sup>3:31</sup>the son of Mal'ah, the son of Manah, the son of Mattatah, the son of Natan, the son of David, <sup>3:32</sup>the son of Yishai, the son of `Oved, the son of Bo`az, the son of Salmon, the son of Nachshon, <sup>3:33</sup>the son of `Amminadav, the son of Aram, the son of Yoram, the son of Chetzron, the son of Peretz, the son of Yehudah, ^3:34the son of Ya`akov, the son of Yitzchak, the son of Avraham, the son of Terach, the son of Nachor, <sup>3:35</sup>the son of Serug, the son of Re`u, the son of Peleg, the son of `Ever, the son of Shelach ^3:36the son of Kenan, the son of Arpakhshad, the son of Shem, the son of Noach, the son of Lamekh, ^3:37the son of Metushelach, the son of Chanokh, the son of Yered, the son of Mahalal'el, the son of Kenan, ^3:38the son of Enosh, the son of Shet, the son of Adam, the son of G-d.

^4:1Yeshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Yarden, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness ^4:2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. ^4:3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of G-d, command this stone to become bread."

^4:4Yeshua answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of G-d.'"

^4:5The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ^4:6The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. ^4:7If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours."

^4:8Yeshua answered him, "Get behind me Hasatan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your G-d, and him only shall you serve.'"

^4:9He led him to Yerushalayim, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of G-d, cast yourself down from here, ^4:10for it is written,

 'He will give his angels charge concerning you, to guard you;'

^4:11and,

 'On their hands they will bear you up,
      Lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.'"

^4:12Yeshua answering, said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your G-d.'"

^4:13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.

^4:14Yeshua returned in the power of the Spirit into the Galil, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. ^4:15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

^4:16He came to Natzeret, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the day of Shabbat, and stood up to read. ^4:17The book of the prophet Yesha`yahu was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

 ^4:18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

 He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim release to the captives,
      Recovering of sight to the blind,
      To deliver those who are crushed,
      ^4:19And to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

^4:20He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. ^4:21He began to tell them, "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

^4:22All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, "Isn't this Yosef's son?"

^4:23He said to them, "Doubtless you will tell me this parable, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Kafar-Nachum, do also here in your hometown.'" ^4:24He said, "Most assuredly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. ^4:25But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Yisra'el in the days of Eliyah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. ^4:26Eliyah was sent to none of them, except to Tzarfat, in the land of Tzidon, to a woman who was a widow. ^4:27There were many lepers in Yisra'el in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Na`aman, the Arammian."

^4:28They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. ^4:29They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. ^4:30But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way.

^4:31He came down to Kafar-Nachum, a city of the Galil. He was teaching them on the day of Shabbat, ^4:32and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. ^4:33In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ^4:34saying, "Ah! what have we to do with you, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of G-d!"

^4:35Yeshua rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.

^4:36Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" ^4:37News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region.

^4:38He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Shim`on's house. Shim`on's mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. ^4:39He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. ^4:40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. ^4:41Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, "You are the Messiah, the Son of G-d!" Rebuking them, he didn't allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.

^4:42When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place, and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn't go away from them. ^4:43But he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of G-d to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent." ^4:44He was preaching in the synagogues of the Galil.

^5:1Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of G-d, that he was standing by the lake of Ginosar. ^5:2He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. ^5:3He entered into one of the boats, which was Shim`on's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. <sup>5:4</sup>When he had finished speaking, he said to Shim`on, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch."

^5:5Shim`on answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net." <sup>5:6</sup>When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. <sup>5:7</sup>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. <sup>5:8</sup>But Shim`on Kefa, when he saw it, fell down at Yeshua#s knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord." ^5:9For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; ^5:10and so also were Ya`akov and Yochanan, sons of Zavdai, who were partners with Shim`on.

Yeshua said to Shim`on, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive."

^5:11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. ^5:12It happened, while he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Yeshua, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean."

^5:13He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean."

Immediately the leprosy left him. ^5:14He charged him to tell no one, "But go your way, and show yourself to the kohen, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moshe commanded, for a testimony to them." ^5:15But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. ^5:16But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.

^5:17It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Perushim and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of the Galil, Yehudah, and Yerushalayim. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. ^5:18Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Yeshua. ^5:19Not 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 midst before Yeshua. ^5:20Seeing their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

^5:21The scribes and the Perushim began to reason, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but G-d alone?"

^5:22But Yeshua, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, "Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? ^5:23Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you;' or to say, 'Arise and walk?' ^5:24But 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."

^5:25Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying G-d. ^5:26Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified G-d. They were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

^5:27After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"

^5:28He left everything, and rose up and followed him. ^5:29Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. ^5:30Their scribes and the Perushim murmured against his talmidim, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" ^5:31Yeshua answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. ^5:32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

^5:33They said to him, "Why do Yochanan's talmidim often fast and pray, likewise also the talmidim of the Perushim, but yours eat and drink?"

^5:34He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? ^5:35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days." ^5:36He 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. ^5:37No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. ^5:38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. ^5:39No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better.'"

^6:1Now it happened on the second Shabbat after the first, that he was going through the grain fields. His talmidim plucked the heads of grain, and ate, rubbing them in their hands. ^6:2But some of the Perushim said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the day of Shabbat?"

^6:3Yeshua, answering them, said, "Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; ^6:4how he entered into the house of G-d, 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 kohanim alone?" ^6:5He said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Shabbat."

^6:6It also happened on another Shabbat that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. ^6:7The scribes and the Perushim watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Shabbat, that they might find an accusation against him. ^6:8But 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. ^6:9Then Yeshua said to them, "I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Shabbat to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" ^6:10He 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. ^6:11But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Yeshua.

^6:12It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to G-d. ^6:13When it was day, he called his talmidim, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named emissaries: ^6:14Shim`on, whom he also named Kefa; Andrai, his brother; Ya`akov; Yochanan; Philip; Bar-Talmai; ^6:15Mattityahu; T'oma; Ya`akov, the son of Chalfai; Shim`on, who was called the Zealot; ^6:16Yehudah the son of Ya`akov; and Yehudah from K'riot, who also became a traitor. ^6:17He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his talmidim, and a great number of the people from all Yehudah and Yerushalayim, and the sea coast of Tzor and Tzidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; ^6:18as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. ^6:19All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

^6:20He lifted up his eyes to his talmidim, and said,

 "Blessed are you who are poor,
      For yours is the Kingdom of G-d.

 ^6:21Blessed are you who hunger now,
      For you will be filled.

 ^6:22Blessed 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.
      ^6:23Rejoice 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.

 ^6:24"But woe to you who are rich!
      For you have received your consolation.

 ^6:25Woe to you, you who are full now!
      For you will be hungry.

 ^6:26Woe, when men speak well of you!
      For their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

^6:27"But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ^6:28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. ^6:29To 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. ^6:30Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

^6:31"As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. ^6:32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ^6:33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ^6:34If 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. ^6:35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of Ha`Elyon; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

 ^6:36Therefore be merciful,
      Even as your Father is also merciful.

 ^6:37Don't judge,
      And you won't be judged.

^6:38"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."

^6:39He spoke a parable to them. "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit? ^6:40A talmid is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. ^6:41Why 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? ^6:42Or 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. ^6:43For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. ^6:44For 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. ^6:45The 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.

^6:46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? ^6:47Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. ^6:48He 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. ^6:49But 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."

^7:1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Kafar-Nachum. ^7:2A certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. ^7:3When he heard about Yeshua, he sent to him elders of the Yehudim, asking him to come and save his servant. ^7:4When they came to Yeshua, they begged him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for you to do this for him, ^7:5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us." ^7:6Yeshua 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. ^7:7Therefore I didn't even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. ^7:8For 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."

^7:9When Yeshua 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 Yisra'el." ^7:10Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.

^7:11It happened soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Na`im. Many of his talmidim, along with a great multitude, went with him. ^7:12Now when he drew 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. ^7:13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, "Don't cry." ^7:14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" ^7:15He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.

^7:16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified G-d, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited his people!" ^7:17This report went out concerning him in the whole of Yehudah, and in all the surrounding region.

^7:18The talmidim of Yochanan told him about all these things. ^7:19Yochanan, calling to himself two of his talmidim, sent them to Yeshua, saying, "Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?" ^7:20When the men had come to him, they said, "Yochanan the immerser has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?'"

^7:21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. ^7:22Yeshua answered them, "Go and tell Yochanan 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. ^7:23Blessed is he who is not offended by me."

^7:24When Yochanan's messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about Yochanan, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ^7:25But 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. ^7:26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. ^7:27This is he of whom it is written,

^7:28"For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than Yochanan the immerser, yet he who is least in the Kingdom of G-d is greater than he."

^7:29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared G-d to be just, having been immersed with Yochanan's immersion. ^7:30But the Perushim and the lawyers rejected the counsel of G-d, not being immersed by him themselves.

^7:31But the Lord said, "To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like? ^7:32They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another, saying, 'We piped to you, and you didn't dance. We mourned, and you didn't weep.' ^7:33For Yochanan the immerser came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' ^7:34The 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!' ^7:35Wisdom is justified by all her children."

^7:36One of the Perushim invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Parush's house, and sat at the table. ^7:37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Parush's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ^7:38Standing 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. ^7:39Now when the Parush 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."

^7:40Yeshua answered him, "Shim`on, I have something to tell you."

He said, "Teacher, say on."

^7:41"A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ^7:42When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"

^7:43Shim`on answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most."

He said to him, "You have judged correctly." ^7:44Turning to the woman, he said to Shim`on, "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. ^7:45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. ^7:46You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ^7:47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." ^7:48He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

^7:49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

^7:50He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in shalom."

^8:1It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of G-d. With him were the twelve, ^8:2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Miryam who was called Magdala, from whom seven demons had gone out; ^8:3and Yochanah, the wife of Kusa, Herod's steward; Shoshanah; and many others; who ministered to them from their possessions. ^8:4When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable. ^8:5"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. ^8:6Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ^8:7Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. ^8:8Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

^8:9Then his talmidim asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

^8:10He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of G-d, but to the rest in parables; that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' ^8:11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of G-d. ^8:12Those 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. ^8:13Those 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. ^8:14That 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. ^8:15That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.

^8:16"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. ^8:17For nothing is hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light. ^8:18Be 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."

^8:19His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. ^8:20It was told him by some saying, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you."

^8:21But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of G-d, and do it."

^8:22Now it happened on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his talmidim, and he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. ^8:23But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. ^8:24They 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. ^8:25He said to them, "Where is your faith?" Being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, "Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?" ^8:26They arrived at the country of the Gadara, which is opposite Galil.

^8:27When Yeshua 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. ^8:28When he saw Yeshua, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, "What do I have to do with you, Yeshua, you Son of Ha`Elyon G-d? I beg you, don't torment me!" ^8:29For Yeshua 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 bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

^8:30Yeshua asked him, "What is your name?"

He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him. ^8:31They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. ^8:32Now 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. ^8:33The demons came out from the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. ^8:34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

^8:35People went out to see what had happened. They came to Yeshua, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Yeshua#s feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ^8:36Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. ^8:37All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadara asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. He entered into the boat, and returned. ^8:38But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Yeshua sent him away, saying, ^8:39"Return to your house, and declare what great things G-d has done for you." He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Yeshua had done for him.

^8:40It happened, when Yeshua returned, that the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ^8:41Behold, there came a man named Ya'ir, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Yeshua#s feet, and begged him to come into his house, ^8:42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. ^8:43A 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, ^8:44came behind him, and touched the tzitzit of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped. ^8:45Yeshua said, "Who touched me?"

When all denied it, Kefa and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"

^8:46But Yeshua said, "Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me." ^8:47When 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.