Read the Gospels in 40 Days
7 And when he had fulfilled all his words into the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 But a servant of a centurion, that was precious to him, was sick, and drawing to the death. [Soothly a servant of some man centurion, having evil, was to die, the which was precious to him.]
3 And when he had heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elder men of Jews, and prayed him [praying him], that he would come, and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they prayed him busily, and said to him, For he is worthy, that thou grant to him this thing; [And, when they came to Jesus, they prayed busily, saying to him, For he is worthy that thou give to him this thing;]
5 for he loveth our folk, and he builded to us a synagogue. [for he loveth our folk, and he built to us a synagogue.]
6 And Jesus went with them. And when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent to him friends, and said [saying], Lord, do not thou be travailed, for I am not worthy, that thou enter under my roof;
7 for which thing I deemed not myself worthy, that I come to thee; but say thou by word, and my child shall be healed.
8 For I am a man ordained under power, and have knights under me [having under me knights]; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this thing, and he doeth [it].
9 And when this thing was heard, Jesus wondered; [and he turned,] and said to the people following him, Truly I say to you, neither in Israel I found so great faith [not in Israel I found so great faith].
10 And they that were sent, turned again home, and found the servant whole [found the servant whole], that was sick.
11 And it was done afterward, Jesus went into a city, that is called Nain, and his disciples; and full great people went with him.[a]
12 And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, lo! the son of a woman that had no more children, was borne out dead [lo! an only son of his mother was borne out dead]; and this was a widow; and much people of the city [was] with her.
13 And when the Lord Jesus had seen her, he had ruth on her, and said to her, Do not thou weep.
14 And he came nigh, and touched the bier [And he came, and touched the bier]; and they that bare the bier stood. And he said, Young man, I say to thee, rise up.
15 And he that was dead sat up again, and began to speak [And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak]; and he gave him to his mother.
16 And dread took all men, and they magnified God, and said [saying], For a great prophet is risen among us, and, For God hath visited his people.
17 And this word went out of him into all Judaea, and into all the country about.
18 And John's disciples told him of all these things. [And the disciples of John told to him of all these things.]
19 And John called twain of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus, and said [And John called together two of his disciples, and sent to Jesus, saying], Art thou he that is to come, or abide we another?
20 And when the men came to him [Soothly when the men had come to him], they said, John Baptist sent us to thee, and said [saying], Art thou he that is to come, or we abide another?
21 And in that hour he healed many men of their sicknesses, and wounds, and [of] evil spirits; and he gave sight to many blind men.
22 And Jesus answered, and said to them [And Jesus answering said to them], Go ye again, and tell ye to John those things that ye have heard and seen; blind men see, crooked men go, mesels be made clean, deaf men hear, dead men rise again, poor men be taken to preaching of the gospel.
23 And he that shall not be caused to stumble in me [And whoever shall not be offended in me], is blessed.
24 And when the messengers of John were gone forth [And when the messengers of John had gone away], he began to say of John to the people, What went ye out into desert to see? a reed wagged with the wind [a reed waved with the wind]?
25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed with soft clothes? Lo! they that be in [a] precious cloak [Lo! they that be in precious cloth] and in delights, be in kings' houses.
26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it is written, Lo! I send mine angel before thy face, which shall make ready thy way before thee.
28 Certainly I say to you, there is no man a more prophet among the children of women, than is John Baptist [Soothly I say to you, among the children of women, no man is more prophet than John Baptist]; but he that is less in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he.
29 And all the people hearing, and publicans, that had been baptized with the baptism of John, justified God; [And all the people hearing, and publicans, baptized with the baptism of John, justified God;]
30 but the Pharisees and the wise men of the law, that were not baptized of him [forsooth Pharisees and wise men of law, not baptized of him], despised the counsel of God against themselves.
31 And the Lord said, Therefore to whom shall I say men of this generation like, and to whom be they like?
32 They be like to children [They be like children] sitting in the market, and speaking together, and saying, We have sung to you with pipes, and ye have not danced; we have made mourning [we have made lamentation, or mourning], and ye have not wept.
33 For John Baptist came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say, He hath a fiend.
34 Man's Son came eating and drinking, and ye say, Lo! a man a devourer [Lo! a man (a) devourer, or glutton], and drinking wine, a friend of publicans and of sinful men.
35 And wisdom is justified of [all] her sons.
36 But one of the Pharisees prayed Jesus, that he should eat with him. And he entered into the house of the Pharisee, and sat at the meat.
37 And lo! a sinful woman, that was in the city, as she knew, that Jesus sat at meat in the house of the Pharisee, she brought an alabaster box of ointment; [And lo! a woman sinner, that was in the city, as she knew, that Jesus had sat at the meat in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment;]
38 and she stood behind beside his feet, and began to moist his feet with tears [and standing behind beside his feet, began to moist his feet with tears], and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed with ointment.
39 And the Pharisee seeing, that had called him, said within himself, saying, If this were a prophet, he should know, who and what manner woman it were that toucheth him, for she is a sinful woman. [Soothly the Pharisee seeing, that called him, saith within himself, saying, If this were a prophet, soothly he should know, who and what manner woman it is that toucheth him, for she is a sinner.]
40 And Jesus answered, and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he said, Master, say thou. [And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he saith, Master, say thou.]
41 And he answered, Two debtors were to one lender; and one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty; [And he answered, Two debtors were to some lender, or usurer; one owed five hundred pence, and an other fifty;]
42 but when they had not whereof to yield, he forgave [freely] to both. Who then loveth him more? [soothly them not having whereof they should yield, he forgave freely to both. Who of them therefore loveth him more?]
43 Simon answered, and said, I guess, that he to whom he forgave more. And he answered to him, Thou hast deemed rightly.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest no water to my feet; but this hath moisted my feet with tears [forsooth this woman hath moisted my feet with tears], and wiped with her hairs.
45 Thou hast not given to me a kiss; but this, since she entered, ceased not to kiss my feet.[b]
46 Thou anointedest not mine head with oil [Thou hast not anointed mine head with oil]; but this anointed my feet with ointment.
47 For which thing I say to thee, many sins be forgiven to her, for she hath loved much [for she loved much]; and to whom is less forgiven, he loveth less.
48 And Jesus said to her, Thy sins be forgiven to thee.
49 And they that sat together at the meat, began to say within themselves, Who is this that [also] forgiveth sins.
50 But he said to the woman, Thy faith hath made thee safe; go thou in peace.
8 And it was done afterward, and Jesus made journey by cities and castles, preaching and evangelizing the realm of God, and twelve with him;
2 and some women that were healed of wicked spirits and sicknesses, Mary, that is called Magdalene, of whom seven devils went out,
3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the procurator of Herod, and Susanna, and many others, that ministered to him of their riches [which ministered to him of their faculties, or riches].
4 And when much people was come together, and men hied to him from the cities, he said by a similitude, [Forsooth when full much company came together, and from cities hasted to him, he said by a likeness, or example,]
5 He that soweth, went out to sow his seed. And while he soweth, some fell beside the way, and was defouled, and birds of the air ate it.
6 And other fell on a stone, and it sprang up, and dried, for it had not moisture [for it had no moisture].
7 And other fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up together, and strangled it.
8 And other fell into good earth [And another fell down into good land], and it sprang up, and made an hundredfold fruit. He said these things, and cried, He that hath ears of hearing, hear he.
9 But his disciples asked him, what this parable was.
10 And he said to them, To you it is granted to know the private of the kingdom of God [To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God]; but to other men in parables, that they seeing see not, and they hearing understand not.
11 And this is the parable. The seed is God's word;
12 and they that be beside the way, be these that hear; and afterward the fiend cometh, and taketh away the word from their heart, lest they believing be made safe.[c]
13 But they that fell on a stone, be these that when they have heard [be these men which when they have heard], receive the word with joy. And these have no roots [And these have not root]; for at a time they believe, and in time of temptation they go away.
14 But that that fell among thorns, be these that heard, and of busynesses, and riches, and lusts of life [and volupties of life] they go forth, and be strangled, and bring forth no fruit.
15 But that that fell into good earth, be these that, in a good heart, and best, hear the word, and hold, and bring forth fruit in patience. [Forsooth that that fell into good earth, be these which, in good heart and best, hearing the word hold, and bring forth fruit in patience.]
16 No man lighteth a lantern, and covereth it with a vessel [Forsooth no man lighting a lantern, covereth it with a vessel], or putteth it under a bed, but on a candlestick, that men that enter see light.
17 For there is no privy thing, which shall not be opened, neither hid thing, which shall not be known, and come into open.[d]
18 Therefore see ye, how ye hear; for it shall be given to him that hath, and whoever hath not, also that that he weeneth that he have[e], shall be taken away from him.
19 And his mother and brethren came to him; and they might not come to him for the people [and they might not go fully to him for the company of people].
20 And it was told to him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand withoutforth, willing to see thee.
21 And he answered, and said to them, My mother and my brethren be these, that hear the word of God [which hear the word of God], and do it.
22 And it was done in one of the days, he went up into a boat, and his disciples. And he said to them, Pass we over the sea [Pass we over the standing water]. And they went up.
23 And while they rowed, he slept. And a tempest of wind came down into the water, and they were driven hither and thither with waves, and were in peril.
24 And they came nigh, and raised him, and said [saying], Commander, we perish. And he rose up, and blamed the wind, and the tempest of the water; and it ceased, and peaceability was made.
25 And he said to them, Where is your faith? Which dreading wondered, and said together [saying together], Who, guessest thou, is this? for he commandeth to the winds and to the sea, and they obey to him.
26 And they rowed to the country of Gadarenes, that is against Galilee [which is against Galilee].
27 And when he went out to the land, a man ran to him, that had a devil long time, and he was not clothed with cloak[f], neither dwelled in house, but in sepulchres.
28 This, when he saw Jesus, fell down before him, and he crying with a great voice said, What to me and to thee, Jesus, the Son of the highest God [This as he saw Jesus, felled down before him, and crying with great voice said, What to me and to thee, Jesus, the Son of God the highest]? I beseech thee, that thou torment me not.
29 For he commanded the unclean spirit, that he should go out from the man. For he took him oft times, and he was bound with chains, and kept in stocks, and when the bonds were broken [and, the bonds broken], he was led of the devil into desert.
30 And Jesus asked him, and said [saying], What name is to thee? And he said, A legion; for many devils were entered into him.
31 And they prayed him, that he should not command them, that they should go into hell [that they should go into the deepness].
32 And there was a flock of many swine pasturing in an hill, and they prayed him, that he should suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 And so the devils went out from the man, and entered into the swine; and with a rush the flock went headlong into the pool, and was drowned [and with rush the flock went headlong into the lake of water, and was strangled].
34 And when the herders saw this thing done [The which thing, as they that pastured, or kept in pastures, saw done], they fled, and told into the city, and into the towns.
35 And they went out to see that thing that was done. And they came to Jesus, and they found the man sitting clothed, from whom the devils went out, and in whole mind at his feet; and they dreaded.
36 And they that saw told to them, how he was made whole of the legion.
37 And all the multitude of the country of Gadarenes prayed him, that he should go from them, for they were held with great dread [for they were holden with great dread]. And he went up into a boat, and turned again.
38 And the man of whom the devils were gone out [And the man of whom the devils went out], prayed him, that he should be with him. Jesus let him go, and said [Soothly Jesus left him, saying],
39 Go again into thine house, and tell how great things God hath done to thee. And he went through all the city, and preached, how great things Jesus had done to him.
40 And it was done, when Jesus was gone again, the people received him; for all were abiding him.
41 And lo! a man, to whom the name was Jairus, and he was [a] prince of a synagogue; and he fell down at the feet of Jesus, and prayed him, that he should enter into his house,
42 for he had but one [only] daughter, almost of twelve years old, and she was dead [and this died]. And it befell, the while he went [while he went], he was thronged of the people.
43 And a woman that had a flux of blood twelve years, and had spended all her chattel in physicians, and might not be cured of any,[g]
44 and she came nigh behind, and touched the hem of his cloak, and at once the flux of her blood ceased. [came nigh behind, and touched the hem of his cloth, and anon the flux of her blood ceased.]
45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all men denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, Commander, the people thrust, and dis-ease thee [Commander, companies of people throng and torment thee], and thou sayest, Who touched me?
46 And Jesus said, Some man hath touched me, for that virtue went out of me [for why and I have known virtue to have gone out of me].
47 And the woman seeing, that it was not hid from him, [she] came trembling, and fell down at his feet, and for what cause she had touched him she showed before all the people, and how at once she was healed.[h]
48 And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee safe; go thou in peace [go in peace].
49 And yet while he spake, a man came from the prince of the synagogue, and said to him [Yet him speaking, some man came to the prince of the synagogue, saying to him], Thy daughter is dead, do not thou travail the master.
50 And when this word was heard, Jesus answered to the father of the damsel, Do not thou dread, but believe thou only [but only believe thou], and she shall be safe.
51 And when he came to the house, he suffered no man to enter with him, but Peter and John and James, and the father and the mother of the damsel.
52 And all wept, and bewailed her. And he said, Do not ye weep, for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 And they scorned him, and knew that she was dead. [And they scorned him, witting that she was dead.]
54 But he held her hand, and cried, and said [saying], Damsel, rise up.
55 And her spirit turned again, and she rose at once [and she rose anon]. And he commanded to give to her to eat [And he commanded to give to her for to eat].
56 And her father and mother wondered greatly; and he commanded them, that they should not say to any [man] that thing that was done. [And her father and mother wondered greatly; to whom he commanded, that they should not say to any man that that was done.]
9 And when the twelve apostles were called together, Jesus gave to them virtue and power on [upon] all devils, and that they should heal sicknesses.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal sick men.
3 And he said to them, Nothing take ye in the way, neither a staff, nor scrip, neither bread, nor money[i], and neither have ye two coats.
4 And into what house ye enter, dwell ye there, and go ye not out from thence. [And into whatever house ye shall enter, dwell ye there, and go ye not out thence.]
5 And whoever receive not you, go ye out of that city, and shake ye off the powder of your feet into witnessing on them. [And whoever shall not receive you, ye going out of that city shake off also the powder of your feet into witnessing upon them.]
6 And they went forth, and went about by castles, preaching [evangelizing] and healing every where.
7 And Herod [the] tetrarch heard all [the] things that were done of him, and he doubted, for that it was said of some men, that John was risen from death;[j]
8 and of some men, that Elias had appeared; but of others, that one of the old prophets was risen.
9 And Herod said, I have beheaded John; and who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.
10 And the apostles turned again, and told to him all things that they had done. And he took them, and went beside into a desert place, that is Bethsaida [the which is called Bethsaida].
11 And when the people knew this, they followed him. And he received them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God; and he healed them that had need of cure [and healed them that had need of cure].
12 And the day began to bow down, and the twelve came, and said to him, Let go the people [Leave the companies of people], that they go, and turn into the castles and towns, that be about, that they find meat [that they find meats], for we be here in a desert place.
13 And he said to them, Give ye to them to eat. And they said, There be not to us more than five loaves and two fishes, but peradventure that we go, and buy meats to all this people [and buy meats for all the company].
14 And the men were almost five thousand. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit to meat by companies, a fifty together.
15 And they did so, and they made all men sit to [the] meat.
16 And when he had taken the five loaves and two fishes, he beheld into heaven, and blessed them, and brake, and dealed to his disciples, that they should set before the companies.
18 And it was done, when he was alone praying, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, and said [saying], Whom say the people that I am?
19 And they answered, and said, John Baptist, others say Elias, and others say, one prophet of the former is risen [but others say, for one prophet of the former hath risen].
20 And he said to them, But whom say ye that I am? Simon Peter answered, and said, The Christ of God [Simon Peter answering said, The Christ of God].
21 And he blaming them commanded that they should say to no man, [And he blaming them commanded them that they should say to no man these things,]
22 and said these things [saying], For it behooveth man's Son to suffer many things, and to be reproved of the elder men, and of the princes of priests [and princes of priests], and of the scribes, and to be slain, and the third day to rise again.
23 And he said to all [men], If any [man] will come after me, deny he himself, and take he his cross every day [and take his cross every day], and follow he me.
24 For he that will make his life safe shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for me, shall make it safe. [Soothly he that shall desire to make his life safe, shall lose it; for why he that shall lose his life for me, shall make it safe.]
25 And what profiteth a man, if he win all the world, and lose himself, and do impairing of himself. [Forsooth what profiteth it to a man, if he win all the world, forsooth lose himself, and do impairing to himself.]
26 For who so shameth me and my words, man's Son shall shame him, when he cometh in his majesty [For why who that shall shame me and my words, and man's Son shall shame him, when he shall come in his majesty], and of the Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 And I say to you, verily there be some standing here, which shall not taste death, till they see the realm of God.
28 And it was done after these words almost eight days, and he took Peter and James and John, and he ascended into an hill, to pray.
29 And while he prayed, the likeness of his face was changed, and his clothing was white shining. [And the while he prayed, the likeness of his cheer was made other manner, and his clothing white shining.]
30 And lo! two men spake with him, and Moses and Elias
31 were seen in majesty; and they said his going out, which he should fulfill in Jerusalem.
32 And Peter, and they that were with him, were heavy of sleep [were grieved, or heavied, with sleep], and they waking saw his majesty, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it was done, when they departed from him, Peter said to Jesus, Commander, it is good that we be here, and make we here three tabernacles, one to thee, and one to Moses, and one to Elias. And he knew not what he should say. [And it was done, when they departed from him, Peter saith to Jesus, Commander, it is good to us for to be here, and make we here three tabernacles, one to thee, and one to Moses, and one to Elias; not witting what he should say.]
34 But while he spake these things, a cloud was made, and overshadowed them; and they dreaded, when they entered into the cloud.
35 And a voice was made out of the cloud, and said [saying], This is my dear-worthy Son, hear ye him.
36 And while the voice was made, Jesus was found alone. And they were still, and to no man said in those days any of those things, that they had seen [And they held peace, and said to no man in those days aught of those things, which they had seen].
37 But it was done in the day following, when they came down of the hill, much people met them.
38 And lo! a man of the company cried, and said [saying], Master, I beseech thee, behold [into] my son, for I have no more [for he is only to me];
39 and lo! a spirit taketh him, and suddenly he crieth, and hurtleth [him] down, and draweth him with foam, and scarcely he goeth away drawing him all to pieces.
40 And I prayed thy disciples, that they should cast him out, and they might not.
41 And Jesus answered and said to them, A! unfaithful generation and wayward [Soothly Jesus answering said to them, O! unfaithful generation and wayward], how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? bring hither thy son.
42 And when he came nigh, the devil hurtled him down [the devil hurled him down], and wrenched him. And Jesus blamed the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and yielded him to his father.
43 And all men wondered greatly in the greatness of God. And when all men wondered in all things that he did [And all men wondering in all things which he did], he said to his disciples,
44 Put ye these words in your hearts [Put ye these words in your heart], for it is to come, that man's Son be betrayed into the hands of men.
45 And they knew not this word, and it was hid before them, that they feeled it not; and they dreaded to ask him of this word.
46 But a thought entered into them, who of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, seeing the thoughts of the heart of them, took a child, and setted [set] him beside him;
48 and said to them, Whoever receiveth this child in my name, receiveth me; and whoever receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me; for he that is least among you all, is the greatest. [and said to them, Whoever shall receive this child in my name, receiveth me; and whoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me; for why he that is less among you all, this is the more.]
49 And John answered and said, Commander, we saw a man casting out fiends in thy name, and we have forbidden him, for he followeth not thee with us.
50 And Jesus said to him, Do not ye forbid, for he that is not against us, is for us.
51 And it was done, when the days of his taking up were fulfilled, he set fast his face, to go to Jerusalem,
52 and sent messengers before his sight. And they went, and entered into a city of Samaritans, to make ready to him.
53 And they received not him, for the face of him was going into Jerusalem [for the face was of him going into Jerusalem].
54 And when James and John, his disciples, saw, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we say [wilt thou that we ask], that fire come down from heaven, and waste them, [as Elias did]?
55 And he turned, and blamed them, and said, Ye know not, whose spirits ye be; [And he turned blamed them, saying, Ye know not, whose spirit ye be;]
56 for man's Son came not to destroy men's souls [to lose men's souls], but to save [them]. And they went into another castle.
57 And it was done, when they walked in the way, a man said to him [some man said to him], I shall follow thee, whither ever thou [shalt] go.
58 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have dens [Foxes have ditches, or dens], and birds of the air have nests, but man's Son hath not where he [shall] rest his head.
59 And he said to another, Follow thou me. And he said, Lord, suffer me first to go, and bury my father.
60 And Jesus said to him, Suffer that dead men bury their dead men [Suffer that dead men bury their dead]; but go thou, and tell the kingdom of God.
61 And another said, Lord, I shall follow thee, but first suffer me to leave all things that be at home [but first suffer me to tell to them that be at home].
62 And Jesus said to him, No man that putteth his hand to the plow, and beholding backward, is able to the kingdom of God.
2001 by Terence P. Noble