Mark 9
Christian Standard Bible
9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,(A) there are some standing here who will not taste death(B) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”(C)
The Transfiguration
2 After(D) six days(E) Jesus took Peter, James, and John(F) and led them up a high mountain(G) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured(H) in front of them, 3 and his clothes(I) became dazzling—extremely white(J) as no launderer on earth could whiten(K) them. 4 Elijah(L) appeared to them with Moses,(M) and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,(N) it’s good(O) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:(P) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say,(Q) since they were terrified.(R)
7 A cloud(S) appeared, overshadowing(T) them, and a voice(U) came from the cloud:(V) “This is my beloved(W) Son;(X) listen to him!” (Y)
8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As(Z) they were coming down the mountain,(AA) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen(AB) until the Son of Man(AC) had risen(AD) from the dead.(AE) 10 They kept this word(AF) to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes(AG) say that Elijah must come first?” (AH)
12 “Elijah does come first and restores(AI) all things,”(AJ) he replied. “Why then is it written(AK) that the Son of Man must suffer(AL) many things and be treated with contempt?(AM) 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written(AN) about him.”
The Power of Faith over a Demon
14 When(AO) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing(AP) with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”
17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,(AQ) I brought my son to you. He has a spirit(AR) that makes him unable to speak.(AS) 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving(AT) generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.
“From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy(AU) him. But if you can do anything, have compassion(AV) on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’?[a] Everything is possible(AW) for the one who believes.”(AX)
24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked(AY) the unclean(AZ) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf(BA) spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions.(BB) The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,(BC) and he stood up.
28 After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”[b](BD)
The Second Prediction of His Death
30 Then(BE) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.(BF) 31 For he was teaching(BG) his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man(BH) is going to be betrayed[c] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise(BI) three days later.”(BJ) 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.(BK)
Who Is the Greatest?
33 They(BL) came to Capernaum.(BM) When he was in the house,(BN) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”(BO) 34 But they were silent,(BP) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.(BQ) 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve(BR) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”(BS) 36 He took a child,(BT) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes[d] one little child such as this in my name(BU) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent(BV) me.”(BW)
In His Name
38 John(BX) said to him, “Teacher,(BY) we saw someone[e] driving out demons(BZ) in your name,(CA) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”(CB)
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle(CC) in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.(CD) 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink(CE) in my name, because you belong to Christ(CF) —truly I tell you,(CG) he will never lose his reward.(CH)
Warnings from Jesus
42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away(CI) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone(CJ) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.(CK) It is better for you to enter life maimed(CL) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.[f](CM) 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame(CN) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.[g] 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God(CO) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown(CP) into hell,(CQ) 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.[h] 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[i][j](CR) 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?(CS) Have salt(CT) among yourselves, and be at peace(CU) with one another.”
Footnotes
- 9:23 Other mss add believe
- 9:29 Other mss add and fasting
- 9:31 Or handed over
- 9:37 Or “Whoever receives
- 9:38 Other mss add who didn’t go along with us
- 9:43 Some mss include v. 44: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
- 9:45 Some mss include v. 46: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
- 9:48 Is 66:24
- 9:49 Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
- 9:49 Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24
Mark 9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 Then He said to them, “I assure you:(A) There are some standing here who will not taste death(B) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”(C)
The Transfiguration
2 After(D) six days(E) Jesus took Peter, James, and John(F) and led them up on a high mountain(G) by themselves to be alone. He was transformed[a](H) in front of them, 3 and His clothes(I) became dazzling—extremely white(J) as no launderer on earth could whiten(K) them. 4 Elijah(L) appeared to them with Moses,(M) and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,(N) it’s good(O) for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:(P) one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what he should say,(Q) since they were terrified.(R)
7 A cloud(S) appeared, overshadowing(T) them, and a voice(U) came from the cloud:(V)
8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.
9 As(Z) they were coming down from the mountain,(AA) He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen(AB) until the Son of Man(AC) had risen(AD) from the dead.(AE) 10 They kept this word(AF) to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribes(AG) say that Elijah must come first?”(AH)
12 “Elijah does come first and restores(AI) everything,”(AJ) He replied. “How then is it written(AK) about the Son of Man that He must suffer(AL) many things and be treated with contempt?(AM) 13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written(AN) about him.”
The Power of Faith over a Demon
14 When(AO) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing(AP) with them. 15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed[b] and ran to greet Him. 16 Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”
17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,(AQ) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit(AR) that makes him unable to speak.(AS) 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving(AT) generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.
“From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy(AU) him. But if You can do anything, have compassion(AV) on us and help us.”
23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?[c][d] Everything is possible(AW) to the one who believes.”(AX)
24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked(AY) the unclean(AZ) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf(BA) spirit,[e] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”
26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing(BB) him[f] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,(BC) and he stood up.
28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer(BD) [and fasting].”[g](BE)
The Second Prediction of His Death
30 Then(BF) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.(BG) 31 For He was teaching(BH) His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man(BI) is being betrayed[h] into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise(BJ) three days later.”(BK) 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.(BL)
Who is the Greatest?
33 Then(BM) they came to Capernaum.(BN) When He was in the house,(BO) He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”(BP) 34 But they were silent,(BQ) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.(BR) 35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve(BS) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”(BT) 36 Then He took a child,(BU) had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes[i] one little child such as this in My name(BV) welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent(BW) Me.”(BX)
In His Name
38 John(BY) said to Him, “Teacher,(BZ) we saw someone[j] driving out demons(CA) in Your name,(CB) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”(CC)
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle(CD) in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.(CE) 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink(CF) because of My name,[k] since you belong to the Messiah(CG)—I assure you:(CH) He will never lose his reward.(CI)
Warnings from Jesus
42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me(CJ)—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone[l](CK) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.(CL) It is better for you to enter life maimed(CM) than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,(CN) [44 where
45 And if your foot causes your downfall,(CP) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame(CQ) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,(CR) 46 where
47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God(CT) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown(CU) into hell,(CV) 48 where
Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.[q]
49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[r](CW)[s] 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?(CX) Have salt(CY) among yourselves and be at peace(CZ) with one another.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:2 Or transfigured
- Mark 9:15 Or surprised
- Mark 9:23 Other mss add believe
- Mark 9:23 Jesus appears to quote the father’s words in v. 22 and then comment on them.
- Mark 9:25 A spirit that caused the boy to be deaf and unable to speak
- Mark 9:26 Other mss omit him
- Mark 9:29 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Mark 9:31 Or handed over
- Mark 9:37 Or Whoever receives
- Mark 9:38 Other mss add who didn’t go along with us
- Mark 9:41 Lit drink in the name
- Mark 9:42 A millstone turned by a donkey
- Mark 9:44 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Mark 9:44 Is 66:24
- Mark 9:46 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Mark 9:46 Is 66:24
- Mark 9:48 Is 66:24
- Mark 9:49 Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
- Mark 9:49 Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24
Mark 9
Living Bible
9 Jesus went on to say to his disciples, “Some of you who are standing here right now will live to see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”
2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there.
Suddenly his face began to shine with glory, 3 and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it! 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus!
5 “Teacher, this is wonderful!” Peter exclaimed. “We will make three shelters here, one for each of you. . . . ”
6 He said this just to be talking, for he didn’t know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened.
7 But while he was still speaking these words, a cloud covered them, blotting out the sun, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
8 Then suddenly they looked around and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them.
9 As they descended the mountainside he told them never to mention what they had seen until after he had risen[a] from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but often talked about it, and wondered what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
11 Now they began asking him about something the Jewish religious leaders often spoke of, that Elijah must return before the Messiah could come.[b] 12-13 Jesus agreed that Elijah must come first and prepare the way—and that he had, in fact, already come! And that he had been terribly mistreated, just as the prophets had predicted. Then Jesus asked them what the prophets could have been talking about when they predicted that the Messiah[c] would suffer and be treated with utter contempt.
14 At the bottom of the mountain they found a great crowd surrounding the other nine disciples, as some Jewish leaders argued with them. 15 The crowd watched Jesus in awe as he came toward them, and then ran to greet him. 16 “What’s all the argument about?” he asked.
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son for you to heal—he can’t talk because he is possessed by a demon. 18 And whenever the demon is in control of him it dashes him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth and become rigid.[d] So I begged your disciples to cast out the demon, but they couldn’t do it.”
19 Jesus said to his disciples,[e] “Oh, what tiny faith you have; how much longer must I be with you until you believe? How much longer must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought the boy, but when he saw Jesus, the demon convulsed the child horribly, and he fell to the ground writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has he been this way?” Jesus asked the father.
And he replied, “Since he was very small, 22 and the demon often makes him fall into the fire or into water to kill him. Oh, have mercy on us and do something if you can.”
23 “If I can?” Jesus asked.
24 The father instantly replied, “I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!”
25 When Jesus saw the crowd was growing, he rebuked the demon.
“O demon of deafness and dumbness,” he said, “I command you to come out of this child and enter him no more!”
26 Then the demon screamed terribly and convulsed the boy again and left him; and the boy lay there limp and motionless, to all appearance dead. A murmur ran through the crowd—“He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet and he stood up and was all right! 28 Afterwards, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast that demon out?”
29 Jesus replied, “Cases like this require prayer.”[f]
30-31 Leaving that region they traveled through Galilee where he tried to avoid all publicity in order to spend more time with his disciples, teaching them. He would say to them, “I, the Messiah, am going to be betrayed and killed and three days later I will return to life again.”
32 But they didn’t understand and were afraid to ask him what he meant.
33 And so they arrived at Capernaum. When they were settled in the house where they were to stay, he asked them, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
34 But they were ashamed to answer, for they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest!
35 He sat down and called them around him and said, “Anyone wanting to be the greatest must be the least—the servant of all!”
36 Then he placed a little child among them; and taking the child in his arms he said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me!”
38 One of his disciples, John, told him one day, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons; but we told him not to, for he isn’t one of our group.”
39 “Don’t forbid him!” Jesus said. “For no one doing miracles in my name will quickly turn against me.[g] 40 Anyone who isn’t against us is for us. 41 If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s—I say this solemnly—he won’t lose his reward. 42 But if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to lose faith—it would be better for that man if a huge millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43-44 [h]“If your hand does wrong, cut it off. Better live forever with one hand than be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell with two! 45-46 If your foot carries you toward evil, cut it off! Better be lame and live forever than have two feet that carry you to hell.
47 “And if your eye is sinful, gouge it out. Better enter the Kingdom of God half blind than have two eyes and see the fires of hell, 48 where the worm never dies, and the fire never goes out— 49 where all are salted with fire.[i]
50 “Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can’t season anything. So don’t lose your flavor! Live in peace with each other.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:9 after he had risen, literally, “after the Son of Man had risen.”
- Mark 9:11 before the Messiah could come, implied.
- Mark 9:12 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Mark 9:18 become rigid, or “is growing weaker day by day.”
- Mark 9:19 to his disciples, implied. Oh, what tiny faith you have, literally, “O unbelieving generation.”
- Mark 9:29 Cases like this require prayer. “And fasting” is added in some manuscripts, but not the most ancient.
- Mark 9:39 will quickly turn against me, literally, “will be able to speak evil of me.”
- Mark 9:43 Verses 44, 46 (which are identical with v. 48) are omitted in some of the ancient manuscripts.
- Mark 9:49 where all are salted with fire, literally, “for everyone shall be salted with fire.”
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