9 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come^(A) with power.”^(B)

The Transfiguration^(C)(D)

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John^(E) with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white,^(F) whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(G) it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:^(H) “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”^(I)

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone^(J) what they had seen until the Son of Man^(K) had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man^(L) must suffer much^(M) and be rejected?^{(N) 13} But I tell you, Elijah has come,^(O) and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit^(P)

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.^(Q)

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”^(R)

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene,^(S) he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,^(T) “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.^[a]”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time^(U)

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man^(V) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,^(W) and after three days^(X) he will rise.”^{(Y) 32} But they did not understand what he meant^(Z) and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³ They came to Capernaum.^(AA) When he was in the house,^(AB) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(AC)

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(AD)

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^(AE) he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^(AF)

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us^(AG)

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”^(AH)

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us.^{(AI) 41} Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^(AJ)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(AK) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(AL) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(AM) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(AN) where the fire never goes out.^{(AO) [44] [b] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(AP) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(AQ) [46] [c] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(AR) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(AS) 48} where

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted^(AU) with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^(AV) Have salt among yourselves,^(AW) and be at peace with each other.”^(AX)

Divorce^(AY)

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan.^(AZ) Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.^(BA)

² Some Pharisees^(BB) came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³ “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”^(BC)

⁵ “It was because your hearts were hard^(BD) that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. ⁶ “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’^{[e](BE) 7} ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,^{[f] 8} and the two will become one flesh.’^[g](BF) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.^{(BG) 12} And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”^(BH)

The Little Children and Jesus^(BI)

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.^{(BJ) 15} Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”^{(BK) 16} And he took the children in his arms,^(BL) placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God^(BM)

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees^(BN) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(BO)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[h]”^(BP)

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,^(BQ) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(BR) Then come, follow me.”^(BS)

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich^(BT) to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[i] to enter the kingdom of God!^{(BU) 25} It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”^(BV)

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”^(BW)

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”^(BX)

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much^(BY) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come^(BZ) eternal life.^{(CA) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(CB)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time^(CC)

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve^(CD) aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,”^(CE) he said, “and the Son of Man^(CF) will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.^(CG) They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him^(CH) and kill him.^(CI) Three days later^(CJ) he will rise.”^(CK)

The Request of James and John^(CL)

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”^(CM)

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,”^(CN) Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup^(CO) I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”^(CP)

³⁹ “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,^{(CQ) 40} but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(CR) 44} and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(CS) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(CT)

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight^(CU)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,^(CV) he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David,^(CW) have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi,^(CX) I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”^(CY) Immediately he received his sight and followed^(CZ) Jesus along the road.

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.^{(A) 2} And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning^(B) and have put out of your fellowship^(C) the man who has been doing this? ³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.^(D) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus^(E) on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over^(F) to Satan^(G) for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.^(H)

⁶ Your boasting is not good.^(I) Don’t you know that a little yeast^(J) leavens the whole batch of dough?^{(K) 7} Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.^{(L) 8} Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread^(M) of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate^(N) with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world^(O) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[c](P) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater^(Q) or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.^(R)

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside^(S) the church? Are you not to judge those inside?^{(T) 13} God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[d](U)

Lawsuits Among Believers

6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?^{(V) 2} Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?^(W) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ⁴ Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? ⁵ I say this to shame you.^(X) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?^{(Y) 6} But instead, one brother^(Z) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!^(AA)

⁷ The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?^{(AB) 8} Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.^{(AC) 9} Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?^(AD) Do not be deceived:^(AE) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers^(AF) nor men who have sex with men^{[e](AG) 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers^(AH) will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were.^(AI) But you were washed,^(AJ) you were sanctified,^(AK) you were justified^(AL) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(AM) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”^(AN) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,^(AO) and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,^(AP) and he will raise us also.^{(AQ) 15} Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?^(AR) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”^{[f](AS) 17} But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.^[g](AT)

¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality.^(AU) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.^{(AV) 19} Do you not know that your bodies are temples^(AW) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;^{(AX) 20} you were bought at a price.^(AY) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(AZ)

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^{(BA) 2} But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. ³ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,^(BB) and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. ⁵ Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,^(BC) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan^(BD) will not tempt you^(BE) because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command.^{(BF) 7} I wish that all of you were as I am.^(BG) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(BH)

⁸ Now to the unmarried^[h] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.^{(BI) 9} But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,^(BJ) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰ To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.^{(BK) 11} But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.^(BL) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(BM) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.^(BN)

¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.^{(BO) 16} How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(BP) your husband?^(BQ) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(BR) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^{(BS) 18} Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.^{(BT) 19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(BU) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(BV)

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;^(BW) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^{(BX) 23} You were bought at a price;^(BY) do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(BZ)

Concerning the Unmarried

²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,^(CA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(CB) is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.^{(CC) 27} Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.^{(CD) 28} But if you do marry, you have not sinned;^(CE) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

²⁹ What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.^(CF) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; ³⁰ those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; ³¹ those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.^(CG)

³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs^(CH)—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.^(CI) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided^(CJ) devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong^[i] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.^(CK) They should get married. ³⁷ But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. ³⁸ So then, he who marries the virgin does right,^(CL) but he who does not marry her does better.^[j]

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.^(CM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.^{(CN) 40} In my judgment,^(CO) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.