Mark 9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 1
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,(B) 3 and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one[b] on earth could brighten them.(C) 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”(D) 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;[c] listen to him!”(E) 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
The Coming of Elijah
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”
The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid, and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” 19 He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy[d] to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy,[e] and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus[f] asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out,[g] “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”(F) 29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”[h]
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”(G) 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.(H)
Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.(I) 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”(J) 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them,(K) 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”(L)
Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[i] and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”(M) 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us.(N) 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.(O)
Temptations to Sin
42 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me[j] to sin,[k] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.(P) 43 If your hand causes you to sin,[l] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[m] to the unquenchable fire.[n](Q) 45 And if your foot causes you to sin,[o] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[p][q](R) 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,[r] tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[s](S) 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.(T)
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[t](U) 50 Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[u] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”(V)
Footnotes
- 9.1 Or in
- 9.3 Gk no fuller
- 9.7 Or my beloved Son
- 9.20 Gk him
- 9.20 Gk him
- 9.21 Gk He
- 9.24 Other ancient authorities add with tears
- 9.29 Other ancient authorities add and fasting
- 9.38 Other ancient authorities add who does not follow us
- 9.42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
- 9.42 Or stumble
- 9.43 Or stumble
- 9.43 Gk Gehenna
- 9.43 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
- 9.45 Or stumble
- 9.45 Gk Gehenna
- 9.45 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
- 9.47 Or stumble
- 9.47 Gk Gehenna
- 9.49 Other ancient authorities add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
- 9.50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?
Mark 9
International Standard Version
9 Then he told them, “I tell all of you[a] with certainty, some people standing here will not experience[b] death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”
Jesus’ Appearance is Changed(A)
2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone[c] on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter told Jesus, “Rabbi,[d] it’s good that we’re here! Let’s set up three shelters[e]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (Peter[f] didn’t know how to respond, because they were terrified.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said,[g] “This is my Son, whom I love. Keep on listening to him!” 8 Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus alone.
9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus[h] ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves but argued about what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 So they asked him, “Don’t the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 He told them, “Elijah is indeed coming first and will restore all things. Why, then, is it written that the Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be treated shamefully? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people[i] treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him.”
Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon(B)
14 As they approached the other[j] disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 15 The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus[k] and ran to welcome him.
16 He asked the scribes,[l] “What are you arguing about with them?”
17 A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit[m] out, but they didn’t have the power.”
19 Jesus[n] told them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”
20 So they brought the boy[o] to him. When the spirit saw Jesus,[p] it immediately threw the boy[q] into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 Then Jesus[r] asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He said, “Since he was a child. 22 The spirit[s] has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!”
23 Jesus told him, “‘If you are able?’ Everything is possible for the person who believes!”
24 With tears flowing,[t] the child’s father at once cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that won’t let him talk or hear—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!” 26 The spirit[u] screamed, shook the child[v] violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead. 27 But Jesus took his hand and helped him up, and he stood up.
28 When Jesus[w] came home, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive the spirit[x] out?”
29 He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”[y]
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection(C)
30 Then they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus[z] didn’t want anyone to find out about it, 31 because he was teaching his disciples, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three days he will be raised.” 32 They didn’t understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.
True Greatness(D)
33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus[aa] was at home, he asked the disciples,[ab] “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest.
35 So he sat down, called the Twelve, and told them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He took him in his arms and told them, 37 “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
The True Follower of Jesus(E)
38 John told Jesus,[ac] “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn’t a follower like us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell all of you[ad] with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah[ae] will never lose his reward.”
Causing Others to Sin(F)
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better for you to enter life injured than to have two hands and go to hell,[af] to the fire that cannot be put out. 44 In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.[ag]
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.[ah] 46 In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.[ai]
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It’s better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.[aj] 48 In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.
49 Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.[ak] 50 Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can you restore its flavor? Keep on having salt among yourselves, and live in peace with one another.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:1 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Mark 9:1 Lit. taste
- Mark 9:3 Lit. anyone who cleans
- Mark 9:5 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher
- Mark 9:5 Or tents
- Mark 9:6 Lit. He
- Mark 9:7 The Gk. lacks and said
- Mark 9:9 Lit. he
- Mark 9:13 Lit. they
- Mark 9:14 The Gk. lacks other
- Mark 9:15 Lit. him
- Mark 9:16 Lit. them
- Mark 9:18 Lit. it
- Mark 9:19 Lit. He
- Mark 9:20 Lit. him
- Mark 9:20 Lit. him
- Mark 9:20 Lit. him
- Mark 9:21 Lit. he
- Mark 9:22 Lit. It
- Mark 9:24 Other mss. lack With tears flowing
- Mark 9:26 Lit. It
- Mark 9:26 The Gk. lacks the child
- Mark 9:28 Lit. he
- Mark 9:28 Lit. drive it
- Mark 9:29 Other mss. lack and fasting
- Mark 9:30 Lit. He
- Mark 9:33 Lit. he
- Mark 9:33 Lit. them
- Mark 9:38 Lit. him
- Mark 9:41 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Mark 9:41 Or Christ
- Mark 9:43 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
- Mark 9:44 Other mss. lack this verse
- Mark 9:45 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
- Mark 9:46 Other mss. lack this verse
- Mark 9:47 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
- Mark 9:49 Other mss. lack and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
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