Mark 7
1 And the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem, are gathered together to him,
One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
2 and seeing some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands,
They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands ‘defiled,’ by which they meant unwashed.
3 (for the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands diligently, do not eat, holding what has been delivered by the ancients;
(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.
4 and [on coming] from the market-place, unless they are washed, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the washing of cups and vessels, and brazen utensils, and couches),
When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).
5 then the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why do thy disciples not walk according to what has been delivered by the ancients, but eat the bread with defiled hands?
So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question — “How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?”
6 But he answering said to them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
His answer was: “It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words — ‘This is a people that honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me;
7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching [as their] teachings commandments of men.
but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.’
8 [For], leaving the commandment of God, ye hold what is delivered by men [to keep] — washings of vessels and cups, and many other such like things ye do.
You neglect God’s commandments and hold to the traditions of men.
9 And he said to them, Well do ye set aside the commandment of God, that ye may observe what is delivered by yourselves [to keep].
Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,” he exclaimed, “to keep your own traditions!
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, he who speaks ill of father or mother, let him surely die.
For while Moses said ‘Honour thy father and thy mother,’ and ‘Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,’
11 But ye say, If a man say to his father or his mother, [It is] corban (that is, gift), whatsoever thou mightest have profit from me by...
you say ‘If a man says to his father or mother “Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban”’ (which means ‘Given to God’) —
12 And ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother;
why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother!
13 making void the word of God by your traditional teaching which ye have delivered; and many such like things ye do.
In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.”
14 And having called again the crowd, he said to them, Hear me, all [of you], and understand:
Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: “Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words.
15 There is nothing from outside a man entering into him which can defile him; but the things which go out from him, those it is which defile the man.
There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can ‘defile’ him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him.”
16 If any one have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he went indoors from the crowd, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 And he says to them, Are ye also thus unintelligent? Do ye not perceive that all that is outside entering into the man cannot defile him,
“What, do even you understand so little?” exclaimed Jesus. “Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can ‘defile’ him,
19 because it does not enter into his heart but into his belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats?
because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of? — in saying this Jesus pronounced all food ‘clean.’
20 And he said, That which goes forth out of the man, that defiles the man.
“It is what comes out from a man,” he added, “that defiles him,
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
for it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts — unchastity, theft, murder, adultery,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickednesses, deceit, licentiousness, a wicked eye, injurious language, haughtiness, folly;
greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;
23 all these wicked things go forth from within and defile the man.
all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man.”
24 And he rose up and went away thence into the borders of Tyre and Sidon; and having entered into a house he would not have any one know [it], and he could not be hid.
On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.
25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell at his feet
For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet —
26 (and the woman was a Greek, Syrophenician by race), and asked him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
the woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia — and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 But [Jesus] said to her, Suffer the children to be first filled; for it is not right to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.
“Let the children be satisfied first,” answered Jesus. “For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.”
28 But she answered and says to him, Yea, Lord; for even the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
“Yes, Master,” she replied; “even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.”
29 And he said to her, Because of this word, go thy way, the demon is gone out of thy daughter.
“For saying that,” he answered, “you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 And having gone away to her house she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 And again having left the borders of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns.
32 And they bring to him a deaf [man] who could not speak right, and they beseech him that he might lay his hand on him.
Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 And having taken him away from the crowd apart, he put his fingers to his ears; and having spit, he touched his tongue;
Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva.
34 and looking up to heaven he groaned, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Then, looking up to Heaven, he sighed, and said to the man: “Ephphatha!” which means ‘Be opened.’
35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the band of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right.
The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
36 And he charged them that they should speak to no one [of it]. But so much the more he charged them, so much the more abundantly they proclaimed it;
Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
37 and they were astonished above measure, saying, He does all things well; he makes both the deaf to hear, and the speechless to speak.
and a profound impression was made upon the people. “He has done everything well!” they exclaimed. “He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!”
