Isaac Blesses Jacob

27 When Isaac was old and (A)his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. (B)Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul (C)may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ Now therefore, my son, (D)obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, (E)so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, (F)my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father (G)will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring (H)a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, (I)“Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the (J)best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I (K)may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because (L)his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. (M)So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, (N)that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments (O)and blessed him and said,

“See, (P)the smell of my son
    is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of (Q)the dew of heaven
    and of the fatness of the earth
    and (R)plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
    and nations (S)bow down to you.
(T)Be lord over your brothers,
    and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
(U)Cursed be everyone who curses you,
    and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, (V)he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, (W)“Is he not rightly named Jacob?[a] For he has cheated me these two times. (X)He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, (Y)I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and (Z)with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And (AA)Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, (AB)away from[b] the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
    and away from[c] the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live,
    and you (AC)shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless
    (AD)you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

41 Now Esau (AE)hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, (AF)“The days of mourning for my father are approaching; (AG)then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away— 45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, (AH)“I loathe my life because of the Hittite women.[d] (AI)If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Jacob Sent to Laban

28 Then Isaac called Jacob (AJ)and blessed him and directed him, (AK)“You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. (AL)Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of (AM)Bethuel your mother's father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. (AN)God Almighty[e] bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give (AO)the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of (AP)the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Esau Marries an Ishmaelite

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. So when Esau saw (AQ)that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, (AR)Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of (AS)Nebaioth.

Jacob's Dream

10 Jacob left (AT)Beersheba and went toward (AU)Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he (AV)dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder[f] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, (AW)the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, (AX)the Lord stood above it[g] and said, (AY)“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. (AZ)The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like (BA)the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and (BB)your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, (BC)I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and (BD)will bring you back to this land. For I will (BE)not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is (BF)in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up (BG)for a pillar (BH)and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place (BI)Bethel,[h] but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob (BJ)made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 (BK)so that I come again to my father's house in peace, (BL)then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, (BM)shall be God's house. And (BN)of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats
  2. Genesis 27:39 Or Behold, of
  3. Genesis 27:39 Or and of
  4. Genesis 27:46 Hebrew daughters of Heth
  5. Genesis 28:3 Hebrew El Shaddai
  6. Genesis 28:12 Or a flight of steps
  7. Genesis 28:13 Or beside him
  8. Genesis 28:19 Bethel means the house of God

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see,(A) he called for Esau his older son(B) and said to him, “My son.”

“Here I am,” he answered.

Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.(C) Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country(D) to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like(E) and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing(F) before I die.”(G)

Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country(H) to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob,(I) “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’(J) Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you:(K) Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats,(L) so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.(M) 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing(N) before he dies.”

11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man(O) while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me?(P) I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse(Q) on myself rather than a blessing.”

13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me.(R) Just do what I say;(S) go and get them for me.”

14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it.(T) 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes(U) of Esau her older son,(V) which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.(W) 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.

18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”

“Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”(X)

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn.(Y) I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game,(Z) so that you may give me your blessing.”(AA)

20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”

“The Lord your God gave me success,(AB)” he replied.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you,(AC) my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac,(AD) who touched(AE) him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau;(AF) so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“I am,” he replied.

25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”(AG)

Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”

27 So he went to him and kissed(AH) him(AI). When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,(AJ) he blessed him and said,

“Ah, the smell of my son
    is like the smell of a field
    that the Lord has blessed.(AK)
28 May God give you heaven’s dew(AL)
    and earth’s richness(AM)
    an abundance of grain(AN) and new wine.(AO)
29 May nations serve you
    and peoples bow down to you.(AP)
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.(AQ)
May those who curse you be cursed
    and those who bless you be blessed.(AR)

30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”(AS)

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”(AT)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.(AU)

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?(AV) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!(AW)

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry(AX) and said to his father, “Bless(AY) me—me too, my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully(AZ) and took your blessing.”(BA)

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(BB) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(BC) me: He took my birthright,(BD) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(BE) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.(BF) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.(BG)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(BH)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(BI) of heaven above.(BJ)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(BK) your brother.(BL)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(BM)

41 Esau held a grudge(BN) against Jacob(BO) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning(BP) for my father are near; then I will kill(BQ) my brother Jacob.”(BR)

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau(BS) had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.(BT) 43 Now then, my son, do what I say:(BU) Flee at once to my brother Laban(BV) in Harran.(BW) 44 Stay with him for a while(BX) until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him,(BY) I’ll send word for you to come back from there.(BZ) Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite(CA) women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land,(CB) from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”(CC)

28 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed(CD) him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman.(CE) Go at once to Paddan Aram,[b](CF) to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel.(CG) Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.(CH) May God Almighty[c](CI) bless(CJ) you and make you fruitful(CK) and increase your numbers(CL) until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham,(CM) so that you may take possession of the land(CN) where you now reside as a foreigner,(CO) the land God gave to Abraham.” Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way,(CP) and he went to Paddan Aram,(CQ) to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean,(CR) the brother of Rebekah,(CS) who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,”(CT) and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women(CU) were to his father Isaac;(CV) so he went to Ishmael(CW) and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth(CX) and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.(CY)

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

10 Jacob left Beersheba(CZ) and set out for Harran.(DA) 11 When he reached a certain place,(DB) he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head(DC) and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream(DD) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.(DE) 13 There above it[d] stood the Lord,(DF) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.(DG) I will give you and your descendants the land(DH) on which you are lying.(DI) 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you(DJ) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.(DK) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[e](DL) 15 I am with you(DM) and will watch over you(DN) wherever you go,(DO) and I will bring you back to this land.(DP) I will not leave you(DQ) until I have done what I have promised you.(DR)(DS)

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep,(DT) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!(DU) This is none other than the house of God;(DV) this is the gate of heaven.”

18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head(DW) and set it up as a pillar(DX) and poured oil on top of it.(DY) 19 He called that place Bethel,[f](DZ) though the city used to be called Luz.(EA)

20 Then Jacob made a vow,(EB) saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me(EC) on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear(ED) 21 so that I return safely(EE) to my father’s household,(EF) then the Lord[g] will be my God(EG) 22 and[h] this stone that I have set up as a pillar(EH) will be God’s house,(EI) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.(EJ)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
  2. Genesis 28:2 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia; also in verses 5, 6 and 7
  3. Genesis 28:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  4. Genesis 28:13 Or There beside him
  5. Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)
  6. Genesis 28:19 Bethel means house of God.
  7. Genesis 28:21 Or Since God … father’s household, the Lord
  8. Genesis 28:22 Or household, and the Lord will be my God, 22 then

Women Accompanying Jesus

Soon afterward he went on (A)through cities and villages, proclaiming and (B)bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also (C)some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: (D)Mary, called Magdalene, (E)from whom seven demons had gone out, and (F)Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[a] out of their means.

The Parable of the Sower

(G)And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, (H)“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, (I)it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among (J)thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded (K)a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, (L)“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, (M)“To you it has been given to know (N)the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so (O)that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 (P)Now the parable is this: The seed is (Q)the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not (R)believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it (S)with joy. But these have no root; they (T)believe for a while, and in time of testing (U)fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but (V)as they go on their way they are choked by the (W)cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and (X)bear fruit (Y)with patience.

A Lamp Under a Jar

16 (Z)(AA)“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 (AB)For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 (AC)Take care then how you hear, (AD)for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

19 (AE)Then his mother and (AF)his brothers[b] came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those (AG)who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

22 (AH)One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of (AI)the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on (AJ)the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and (AK)rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, (AL)and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they (AM)were afraid, and they (AN)marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that (AO)he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

26 (AP)Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,[c] which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus[d] had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house (AQ)but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he (AR)cried out and fell down before him and said (AS)with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, (AT)Son of (AU)the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon (AV)into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, (AW)“Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into (AX)the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into (AY)the lake and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting (AZ)at the feet of Jesus, (BA)clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed[e] man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes (BB)asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and (BC)declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd (BD)welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 (BE)And there came a man named Jairus, who was (BF)a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had (BG)an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people (BH)pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman (BI)who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her (BJ)living on physicians,[f] she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched (BK)the fringe of his garment, and (BL)immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[g] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that (BM)power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, (BN)your faith has made you well; (BO)go in peace.”

49 While he was still speaking, someone from (BP)the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; (BQ)do not trouble (BR)the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except (BS)Peter and (BT)John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and (BU)mourning for her, but he (BV)said, “Do not weep, for (BW)she is not dead but (BX)sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But (BY)taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, (BZ)arise.” 55 And (CA)her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but (CB)he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 8:3 Some manuscripts him
  2. Luke 8:19 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 21
  3. Luke 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37
  4. Luke 8:27 Greek he; also verses 38, 42
  5. Luke 8:36 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons
  6. Luke 8:43 Some manuscripts omit and though she had spent all her living on physicians
  7. Luke 8:45 Some manuscripts add and those who were with him

The Parable of the Sower(A)

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.(B) The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene)(C) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s(D) household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(E)

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you,(F) but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;
    though hearing, they may not understand.’[a](G)

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.(H) 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.(I) 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches(J) and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

A Lamp on a Stand

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.(K) 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.(L) 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”(M)

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(N)

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers(O) are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”(P)

Jesus Calms the Storm(Q)(R)

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master,(S) we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked(T) the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.(U) 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man(V)(W)

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[b] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me,(X) Jesus, Son of the Most High God?(Y) I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.(Z)

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake(AA) and was drowned.

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet,(AB) dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed(AC) man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them,(AD) because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman(AE)

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader,(AF) came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding(AG) for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak,(AH) and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master,(AI) the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me;(AJ) I know that power has gone out from me.”(AK)

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.(AL) Go in peace.”(AM)

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader.(AN) “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James,(AO) and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning(AP) for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”(AQ)

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”(AR) 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 8:10 Isaiah 6:9
  2. Luke 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes; also in verse 37
  3. Luke 8:43 Many manuscripts years, and she had spent all she had on doctors

Answer Me When I Call

To the (A)choirmaster: with (B)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my (C)righteousness!
    You have (D)given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men,[a] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after (E)lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has (F)set apart (G)the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

(H)Be angry,[b] and do not sin;
    (I)ponder in your own hearts (J)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer (K)right sacrifices,
    and put your (L)trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    (M)Lift up (N)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put (O)more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both (P)lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me (Q)dwell in safety.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
  2. Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated

Psalm 4[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Answer me(A) when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(B)
    have mercy(C) on me and hear my prayer.(D)

How long will you people turn my glory(E) into shame?(F)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c](G)
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(H) for himself;
    the Lord hears(I) when I call to him.

Tremble and[d] do not sin;(J)
    when you are on your beds,(K)
    search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.(L)

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.(M)
Fill my heart(N) with joy(O)
    when their grain and new wine(P) abound.

In peace(Q) I will lie down and sleep,(R)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
  2. Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
  3. Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  4. Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)