12 At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. ² But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. ³ But he said unto them, ^[a]Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; ⁴ how he entered into the house of God, and ^[b]ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have ye not read in the law, ^[c]that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? ⁶ But I say unto you, that ^[d]one greater than the temple is here. ⁷ But if ye had known what this meaneth, ^[e]I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.

²³ And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples ^[a]began, as they went, to pluck the ears. ²⁴ And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? ²⁵ And he said unto them, ^[b]Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him? ²⁶ How he entered into the house of God ^[c]when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him? ²⁷ And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: ²⁸ so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.

6 Now it came to pass on a ^[a]sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. ² But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day? ³ And Jesus answering them said, ^[b]Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him; ⁴ how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone? ⁵ And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.