²⁰ And seeing their faith, He said, “^[a]Friend, ^(A)your sins are forgiven you.” ²¹ The scribes and the Pharisees ^(B)began thinking of the implications, saying, “^(C)Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? ^(D)Who can forgive sins, except God alone?” ²² But Jesus, ^[b]aware of their thoughts, responded and said to them, “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier, to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the ^(E)man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher, and go home.” ²⁵ And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home ^(F)glorifying God.