Chapter 5

  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,  

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  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.  

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  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.  

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  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  

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  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  

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  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  

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  And they beckoned unto [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.  

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  When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  

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  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  

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  And so [was] also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  

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  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.  

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  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 besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  

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  And he put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.  

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  And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  

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  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.  

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  And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  And when they could not find by what [way] they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with [his] couch into the midst before Jesus.  

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  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.  

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  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?  

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  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?  

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  Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?  

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  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.  

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  And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  

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  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.  

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  And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  

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  And he left all, rose up, and followed him.  

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  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.  

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  But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?  

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  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  

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  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  

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  And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?  

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  And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?  

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  But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.  

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  And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old.  

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  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.  

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  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.  

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  No man also having drunk old [wine] straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.  

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