Mark 12
New Life Version
The Picture-Story of the Grape-Field (A)
12 Jesus began to teach them by using picture-stories, saying, “There was a man who planted grapes in a field. He put a fence around it and made a place for making wine. He built a tower to look over the field. Then he let farmers rent it and went into another country.
2 “The time came for gathering the grapes. He sent his servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. 3 The farmers took him and beat him. They sent him back with nothing. 4 The owner sent another servant. The farmers threw stones at him and hit him on the head and did other bad things to him. 5 Again the owner sent another servant. The farmers killed that one. Many other servants were sent. They beat some and they killed others.
6 “He had a much-loved son to send yet. So last of all he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 The farmers said to themselves, ‘This is the one who will get everything when the owner dies. Let us kill him and we will get everything.’ 8 They took him and killed him. They threw his body outside the field. 9 What will the owner of the field do? He will come and kill the farmers. He will give the field to other farmers.
10 “Have you not read what the Holy Writings say? ‘The Stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important Stone in the corner of the building. 11 The Lord has done this. It is great in our eyes.’” (B) 12 The leaders wanted to take Him but they were afraid of the people. They knew He had told the picture-story against them. They left Him and went away.
They Try to Trap Jesus (C)
13 Some of the proud religious law-keepers and Herod’s men were sent to trap Jesus in His talk. 14 They came to Him and said, “Teacher, we know You are true. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You. You teach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or not pay?” Jesus knew how they pretended to be someone they were not. He said to them, “Why do you try to trap Me? Bring Me a small piece of money so I may look at it.” 16 They brought Him one. He asked them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” They were surprised and wondered at Him.
They Ask about Being Raised from the Dead (D)
18 Some people from the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Jesus. They asked Him, 19 “Teacher, Moses gave us a Law. It said, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind, but no children, then his brother should marry his wife and raise children for his brother.’ (E) 20 There were seven brothers. The first was married. He died before he had any children. 21 The second married her and died. He had no children. The same happened with the third. 22 All seven had her for a wife. All died without children. Last of all the woman died. 23 When people are raised from the dead, whose wife will she be? All seven had her for a wife.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you do not know the Holy Writings or the power of God? 25 When people are raised from the dead, they do not marry and are not given in marriage. They are like angels in heaven. 26 As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses how God spoke to him in the burning bush? He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ (F) 27 He is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the living. So you are very much wrong.”
The Great Law (G)
28 Then one of the teachers of the Law heard them arguing. He thought Jesus had spoken well. He asked Him, “Which Law is the greatest of all?” 29 Jesus said to him, “The greatest Law is this, ‘Listen, Jewish people, The Lord our God is one Lord! 30 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (H) This is the first Law.
31 “The second Law is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ (I) No other Law is greater than these.”
32 Then the teacher of the Law said, “Teacher, You have told the truth. There is one God. There is no other God but Him. 33 A man should love Him with all his heart and with all his understanding. He should love Him with all his soul and with all his strength and love his neighbor as himself. This is more important than to bring animals to be burned on the altar or to give God other gifts on the altar in worship.” 34 Jesus saw he had spoken with understanding. He said to him, “You are not far from the holy nation of God.” After that no one thought they could ask Him anything.
Jesus Asks the Proud Religious Law-Keepers about the Christ (J)
35 Jesus was in the house of God teaching. He asked, “How do the teachers of the Law say that Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself, led by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right side until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.’ (K) 37 David himself calls Him Lord. Then how can He be his son?” Many people were glad to hear Him.
False Teachers (L)
38 Jesus taught them, saying, “Look out for the teachers of the Law. They like to walk around in long coats. They like to have the respect of men as they stand in the center of town where people gather. 39 They like to have the important seats in the places of worship and the important places at big suppers. 40 They take houses from poor women whose husbands have died. They cover up the bad they do by saying long prayers. They will be punished all the more.”
The Woman Whose Husband Had Died Gave All She Had (M)
41 Jesus sat near the money box in the house of God. He watched the people putting in money. Many of them were rich and gave much money. 42 A poor woman whose husband had died came by and gave two very small pieces of money.
43 Jesus called His followers to Him. He said, “For sure, I tell you, this poor woman whose husband has died has given more money than all the others. 44 They all gave of that which was more than they needed for their own living. She is poor and yet she gave all she had, even what she needed for her own living.”
Mark 12
Jubilee Bible 2000
12 ¶ And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard and set a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat {Place where grapes are tread} and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen and went far away.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a slave that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And taking him, they beat him and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another slave, and casting stones at him, they wounded him in the head and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another, and him they killed and many others, beating some and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the place shall be ours.
8 And taking hold of him, they killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What, therefore, shall the lord of the vineyard do? He shall come and destroy those husbandmen and shall give his vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected is placed as the head of the corner;
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 And they sought to lay hold on him but feared the multitude, for they understood that he had spoken the parable against them, and leaving him, they went away.
13 ¶ And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to catch him in his words.
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art a man of truth who regards no man; for thou dost not look upon the appearance of men, but dost with truth teach the way of God; is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?
15 Shall we give or shall we not give? Then he, understanding their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me the coin that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he said unto them, Of whom is this image and inscription? And they said unto him, Of Caesar.
17 And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Render that which is of Caesar unto Caesar, and that which is of God unto God. And they marvelled at this.
18 ¶ Then come unto him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind him and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother.
20 Now there were seven brethren, and the first took a wife and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed; and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her and left no seed; last of all the woman died also.
23 In the resurrection, therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24 Then Jesus, answering, said unto them, Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise from the dead, neither shall they marry nor husbands take women nor women, husbands; but are as the angels who are in the heavens.
26 And regarding the dead who are to rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spoke unto him, saying, I Am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not God of the dead, but God of the living; ye therefore do greatly err.
28 ¶ And one of the scribes came, having heard their dispute and knowing that he had given a good response unto them, asked him, Which is the principal commandment of all?
29 And Jesus responded unto him, The principal of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one;
30 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy thought and with all thy strength: this is the principal commandment.
31 And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
32 Then the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, that God is one, and there is none other outside of him;
33 and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 Then Jesus, seeing that he responded wisely, said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that dared ask him any question.
35 ¶ And answering, Jesus said, while he taught in the temple, How do the scribes say that the Christ is Son of David?
36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37 David therefore himself calls him Lord, and where then is he his son? And the many people heard him gladly.
38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, who love to go in long clothing and love the salutations in the marketplaces
39 and the first chairs in the synagogues and the first seats at the suppers,
40 which devour widows’ houses and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater judgment.
41 ¶ And with Jesus sitting in front of the ark of the offering, he beheld how the people cast money into the ark and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And as there came a certain poor widow, she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 Then calling his disciples, he said unto them, Verily I say unto you that this poor widow has cast more in than all those who have cast into the treasury,
44 for they all did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Mark 12
Wycliffe Bible
12 And Jesus began to speak to them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and delved a lake, and builded a tower [and built a tower], and hired it to earth-tillers, and went forth in pilgrimage.
2 And he sent to the earth-tillers in time a servant, to receive of the earth-tillers of the fruit of the vineyard.[a]
3 And they took him, and beat him, and let him go void [and left him void].
4 And again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and tormented him [and punished him with chidings, or reprovings].
5 And again he sent another, and they slew him, and others more, beating some, and slaying others. [And again he sent another, and they killed him, and others more, and they beat some, soothly they killed others.]
6 But yet he had a most dear-worthy son, and he sent him last to them, and said [Therefore yet he having one son most dear-worthy, and to them he sent him the last, saying], Peradventure they shall dread [with reverence] my son.
7 But the earth-tillers said together [said to themselves], This is the heir; come ye, slay we him, and the heritage shall be ours.
8 And they took him, and killed him, and casted [cast] him out without the vineyard.
9 Then what shall the lord of the vineyard do [What therefore shall the lord of the vinery do]? He shall come, and destroy [and lose] the earth-tillers, and give the vineyard to others.
10 Whether ye have not read this scripture, The stone which the builders have despised, this is made into the head of the corner?
11 This thing is done of the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
12 And they sought to hold him, and they dreaded the people; for they knew that to them he said this parable; and they left him, and they went away.
13 And they sent to him [And they send to him] some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to take him in word.
14 Which came, and said to him [Which coming say to him], Master, we know that thou art soothfast, and reckest not of any man; for neither thou beholdest into the face of any man, but thou teachest the way of God in truth. Is it leaveful that tribute be given to the emperor [Is it leaveful to give tribute to Caesar], or we shall not give?
15 Which witting their privy falseness, said to them, What tempt ye me [What tempt ye me, hypocrites]? bring ye to me a penny, that I [may] see.
16 And they brought to him. And he said to them [And he saith to them], Whose is this image, and the writing above? And they say to him, The emperor's [They say to him, Caesar's].
17 And Jesus answered and said to them, Then yield ye to the emperor those things that be the emperor's; and to God those things that be of God. And they wondered of him. [Forsooth Jesus answering said to them, Therefore yield ye to Caesar those things that be of Caesar, and to God, those things that be of God. And they wondered on him.]
18 And Sadducees, that say that there is no resurrection, came to him, and asked him, and said,[b]
19 Master, Moses wrote to us, that if the brother of a man were dead, and left his wife, and have no sons [and left no sons], his brother [shall] take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
20 Then seven brethren there were [Therefore seven brethren were]; and the first took a wife, and died, and left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, and neither he left seed. And the third also.
22 And in like manner the seven took her, and left no seed. And the woman the last of all died. [And seven took her, and left no seed. And the woman last of all is dead.]
23 Then [Therefore] in the resurrection, when they shall rise again, whose wife of these shall she be? for seven had her to wife.
24 And Jesus answered, and said to them, Whether ye err not therefore, that ye know not [the] scriptures, neither the virtue of God?[c]
25 For when they shall rise again from death, neither they shall wed, nor shall be wedded, but they shall be as angels of God in heavens.[d]
26 And of dead men, that they rise again, have ye not read in the book of Moses, on [upon] the bush, how God spake to him, and said [saying], I am God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob?
27 He is not God of dead men, but [God] of living men; therefore ye err much.
28 And one of the scribes, that had heard them disputing together, came nigh, and saw that Jesus had well-answered them, and asked him[e], which was the first commandment of all.
29 And Jesus answered to him, That the first commandment of all is, Hear thou, Israel, thy Lord God is one God;[f]
30 and thou shalt love thy Lord God of all thine heart, and of all thy soul, and of all thy mind, and of all thy might [and thou shalt love the Lord thy God of all thine heart, and of all thy soul, and of all thy mind, and of all thy virtue, or strength]. This is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like to this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said to him, Master, in truth thou hast well said; for one God is, and there is none other, except him;
33 [and] that he be loved of all the heart, and of all the mind, and of all the understanding, and of all the soul, and of all the strength, and to love the neighbour as himself, is greater than all burnt offerings and sacrifices [and to love thine neighbour as himself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices].
34 And Jesus seeing that he had answered wisely, said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And then no man durst ask him more any thing [And now no man durst ask him more].
35 And Jesus answered and said, teaching in the temple, How say [the] scribes, that Christ is the son of David?
36 For David himself said in the Holy Ghost, the Lord said to my Lord, Sit [thou] on my right half, till I put thine enemies the stool of thy feet. [Forsooth David himself said in the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right half, till I put thine enemies a stool of thy feet.]
37 Then if David himself calleth him Lord, how then is he his son [Therefore David himself sayeth him Lord, and whereof is he his son]? And much people gladly heard him.
38 And he said to them in his teaching, Be ye ware of scribes, that will wander in stoles [that will go in stoles], and be saluted in [the] market,
39 and sit in synagogues in the first chairs [and sit in the first chairs in synagogues], and in the first sitting places in suppers;
40 which devour the houses of widows under [the] colour of long prayer; they shall take the longer doom [these shall take longer doom, either damnation].
41 And Jesus sitting against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury; and many rich men casted many things [and many rich cast many things].
42 But when a poor widow was come [Soothly when a poor widow had come], she cast two minutes, that is, a farthing.
43 And he called together his disciples, and said to them [and saith to them], Truly I say to you, that this poor widow cast more than all, that cast into the treasury.
44 For all they cast of that thing that they had plenty of; but this of her poverty cast all things that she had, all her livelode [but this of her mis-ease sent all things that she had, all her lifelode].
Footnotes
- Mark 12:2 And he sent to the earth-tillers in time a servant, that he should receive of the fruit of the vineyard of the earth-tillers.
- Mark 12:18 And Sadducees, that say that no rising again is, come to him, and they asked him, saying,
- Mark 12:24 And Jesus answering said to them, Whether ye err not therefore, not knowing the scriptures, neither the virtue of God?
- Mark 12:25 Forsooth when they shall rise again from dead, neither they wed, nor be wedded, but they shall be as angels of God in heaven.
- Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes, that had heard them seeking together, came nigh, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him
- Mark 12:29 Forsooth Jesus answered him, That the first of all commandments is, Hear, Israel, the Lord thy God is one God;
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2001 by Terence P. Noble