Luke 5
1 One day while many people were crowding around him to hear the message from God, Jesus was standing on the shore of Gennesaret Lake, [which is also called Lake Galilee].
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed on him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 He saw two [fishing] boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had gone out of the boats and were washing their [fishing] nets [on the shore]. One of the boats belonged to Simon.
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 Jesus got in that boat and asked Simon to push the boat a little bit away from the shore [so that he could speak to the crowd more easily. Jesus] sat in the boat and taught the people [who were on the shore].
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 After he finished speaking [to them], he said to Simon, “Push the boat out to where the water is deep. Then let your nets down [into the water] to catch [some fish]!”
Now when he had left speaking, he said to Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 Simon replied, “Master, we [(exc)] worked hard all night but we did not catch any [fish]. But because you [(sg)] tell me to do it, I will let down the nets.”
And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.
6 When Peter [and the men with him] had done that, they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking.
And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.
7 They motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. So they came and filled both the boats [with fish from the net]. The result was that the boats were so full that they began to sink.
And they beckoned to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 Simon and all the men who were with him were amazed at how many fish they had taken. James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners, were among those who were amazed. When Simon, [whose other name was] Peter, saw [the fish, feeling ashamed to be in the presence of someone who obviously had God’s power], he prostrated himself before Jesus and said, “Lord, you should go away from me, because I am a sinful man!”
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 But Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid! [Up until now you(sg) have been gathering fish] [MET], but from now on you will gather people [to become my disciples].”
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; from now on you shall catch men.
11 So after they brought the boats to the shore, they left their business [HYP] [in the hands of others] and went with Jesus.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12 While [Jesus] was in one of the cities [there in the district of Galilee], there was a man there who was very severely affected by leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he prostrated himself before him and, [wanting Jesus to heal him], pleaded with him, “Lord/Sir, [please heal me, because] you are able to heal me if you are willing to!”
And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and sought him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.
13 [Then Jesus, disregarding the religious law that forbade people to come close to lepers], reached out his hand and touched the man. He said, “I am willing [to heal you]; and I heal you now!” Immediately the man [was healed]. He was no longer a leper [PRS]!
And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be you clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 Then Jesus told him, “Make sure that you do not report [your healing immediately. First, go to a priest in Jerusalem] and show yourself to him [so that he can examine you and verify that you no longer have leprosy]. After the priest tells [the local people], they will know that [you have been healed, and you will be able to associate with them again]. Also take to the priest [the offering] that Moses commanded [that people who have been healed from leprosy should offer].”
And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
15 But many people heard the man’s report of what [Jesus had done]. The result was that large crowds came to Jesus to hear his [message] and to be healed of their sicknesses {so that he would heal their sicknesses}.
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16 But he often would go away from them to the desolate area and pray.
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
17 One day when [Jesus] was teaching, some men from the Pharisee [sect] were sitting there. Some of them were men who taught the [Jewish] laws. They had come from many [HYP] villages in Galilee [district] and also from Jerusalem and from [other] villages in Judea [district]. [At that time while] God was giving Jesus power to heal people,
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 several men brought on a sleeping pad a man who was paralyzed. They wanted to bring him into [the house] and lay him in front of Jesus.
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 But there was no way to do that because of the large crowd of people, so they went up [the steps] onto the roof. They tied ropes onto the sleeping pad and, after [removing some of] the tiles on the roof, they lowered the man [on] the sleeping pad. They lowered him through the opening into the midst of the crowd in front of Jesus.
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went on the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the middle before Jesus.
20 When Jesus perceived that they believed that [he could heal the man], he said to him, “My friend, [I] forgive your sins!”
And when he saw their faith, he said to him, Man, your sins are forgiven you.
21 The men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the rest of the Pharisees began to think within themselves, “Who does this man [think he is, saying] that? He is insulting God! (Nobody can forgive sins!/What person can forgive sins?) [RHQ] Only God can do that!”
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 Jesus perceived what they were thinking. So he said to them, “(You should not think that way [about what I said]!/Why do you question within yourselves [about what I said]?) [RHQ] [Consider this]:
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said to them, What reason you in your hearts?
23 It would [not] be risky [for someone] to say [to this man], ‘[I] forgive your sins,’ [because no one could see whether or not his sins were really forgiven. But no one] [RHQ], [without having the power to heal], would say to [him], ‘Get up and walk!’ [because people could easily see whether he was healed or not].
Whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But [as a result of my healing this man] you [(pl)] will know that [God] has authorized [me], the one who came from heaven, to forgive the sins [of people while I am on] the earth, [as well as to heal people].” Then he said to the man who was paralyzed, “To you I say, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping pad, and go home!’”
But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy, ) I say to you, Arise, and take up your couch, and go into your house.
25 Immediately the man [was healed]. He stood up in front of them. He picked up the [sleeping pad] on which he had been lying, and went home, praising God.
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that where on he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 All the people [there] were amazed! They praised God and were completely awestruck. They kept saying, “We [(inc)] have seen wonderful things today!”
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
27 Then [Jesus] left [the town] and saw a man who collected taxes [for the Roman government]. His name was Levi. He was sitting in the booth where he collected the taxes. Jesus said to him, “Come with me [and become my disciple]!”
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him, Follow me.
28 So Levi left his work [HYP] and went with Jesus.
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 Afterwards, Levi prepared a big feast in his own house [for Jesus and his disciples]. There was a large group of tax collectors and others eating together with them.
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 The men who were there who taught the [Jewish] laws, ones who belonged to the Pharisee [sect], complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “([It is disgusting that] you are eating with tax collectors and [others who we(exc) consider to be] sinners!/Why are you eating with tax collectors [and others who we(exc) consider to be] sinners?)” [RHQ]
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 Then, [to indicate that it was those who knew that they had sinned who were coming to him for help], Jesus said to them, “[It is] people who are sick who need a doctor, not those who are well [MET].
And Jesus answering said to them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 [Similarly], I did not come [from heaven] to invite [those who think they are] righteous [to come to me]. On the contrary, [I came to invite those who know that they are] sinners to turn from their sinful behavior [and come to me].”
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33 [Those Jewish leaders] said to Jesus, “The disciples of John [the Baptizer] often abstain from food [to show that they want to please God], and the disciples of the Pharisees do that, too. But your disciples keep on eating and drinking! [Why do not they fast like the others]?”
And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but your eat and drink?
34 [To show them that it was not appropriate for his disciples to be sad and abstain from food while he was still with them] [MET], Jesus said to them, “When (the bridegroom/man who is getting married) is with [his friends at the time of the wedding], you certainly do not make his friends abstain from food, do you [RHQ]? [No, you do not do that].
And he said to them, Can you make the children of the bridal chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 [But] some day he will be taken away {[his enemies] will take him away} from them. Then, at that time, his friends will abstain from food, [because they will be sad].”
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36 Then Jesus told them two parables [to show them that those who desire to live according to God’s new message should not be forced to obey the old religious traditions like] ([fasting/abstaining from food]), [and that those who know only the old traditions are not eager to accept new ones] [MET]. He said, “People never tear a piece of cloth from a new garment and attach it to an old garment [to mend it]. If they did that, not only would they be ruining the new garment by tearing it, but the new piece of cloth would not match the old garment.
And he spoke also a parable to them; No man puts a piece of a new garment on an old; if otherwise, then both the new makes a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agrees not with the old.
37 Neither does anyone put freshly-[squeezed] grape juice into old skin bags [to store it]. If anyone did that, the grape juice would burst the skin bags [because they would not stretch when the] new [wine ferments and expands. Then] the skin bags would be ruined, and [the wine] would [also] be spilled.
And no man puts new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 On the contrary, new wine must be put into new wineskins.
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 Furthermore, those who have drunk [only] old wine [are content with that]. They do not want to drink the new wine, because they say, ‘The old wine is [MET] fine!’”
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desires new: for he says, The old is better.
