And He said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that there are some of them that stand here who shall not taste of death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.”

And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up onto a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow, such as no fuller on earth could whiten them.

And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter spoke and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah—”

for he knew not what to say, for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This Is My Beloved Son: Hear Him!”

And suddenly when they had looked round about, they saw no man anymore, save Jesus only with them.

And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of Man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying to themselves, questioning one another what “rising from the dead” should mean.

And they asked Him, saying, “Why say the scribes that first Elijah must come?”

And He answered and told them, “Elijah verily cometh first and restoreth all things, and how it is written of the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be set at nought.

But I say unto you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed; and running to Him, they greeted Him.

And He asked the scribes, “What question ye with them?”

And one of the multitude answered and said, “Master, I have brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit.

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth and gnasheth his teeth and pineth away. And I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not.”

Jesus answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto Me.”

And they brought the boy unto Him. And when the spirit saw Him, straightway he tore the boy; and he fell on the ground and wallowed about foaming.

And He asked his father, “How long is it ago since this came unto him?” And he said, “From childhood.

And oftentimes it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him; but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, “Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him and enter no more into him.”

And the spirit cried, and rent the boy sorely and came out of him; and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, “He is dead.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could not we cast him out?”

And He said unto them, “This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”

And they departed thence and passed through Galilee, and He would not that any man should know it.

For He taught His disciples and said unto them, “The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after He is killed, He shall rise the third day.”

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

And He came to Capernaum; and being in the house, He asked them, “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves on the way?”

But they held their peace, for on the way they had disputed among themselves as to who should be the greatest.

And He sat down, and called the twelve and said unto them, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.”

And He took a child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them,

“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me.”

And John answered Him, saying, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, but he followeth us not, so we forbad him because he followeth not us.”

But Jesus said, “Forbid him not, for there is no man who shall do a miracle in My name that can lightly speak evil of Me.

For he that is not against us is on our side.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in Me to fall, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand cause thee to fall, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter into life maimed than, having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,

where ‘their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.’

And if thy foot cause thee to fall, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter halt into life than, having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,

where ‘their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.’

And if thine eye cause thee to fall, pluck it out. It is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire,

where ‘their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.’

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost his saltness, with what will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;

and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.

And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.

And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead.

And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, How is it that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?

And he said unto them, Elijah indeed cometh first, and restoreth all things: and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be set at nought?

But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would, even as it is written of him.

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked them, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;

and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.

And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.

And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.

Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again.

But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?

But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

John said unto him, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is for us.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.

And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;

where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.

And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste (experience) death before they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured (changed in form) before them [and began to shine brightly with divine and regal glory];

and His clothes became radiant and dazzling, intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were having a conversation with Jesus.

Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi (Master), it is good for us to be here; let us make three [sacred] tents—one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

For he did not [really] know what to say because they were terrified [and stunned by the miraculous sight].

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him and obey Him!”

Suddenly they looked around and no longer saw anyone with them, except Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus expressly ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they [carefully and faithfully] kept the matter to themselves, discussing and questioning [with one another] what it meant to rise from the dead.

They asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first [before the Messiah comes]?”

He answered them, “Elijah does come first and restores and reestablishes all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things [grief and physical distress] and be treated with contempt [utterly despised and rejected]?

But I say to you that Elijah has in fact come [already], and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written [in Scripture] of him.”

When they came [back] to the [other nine] disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes questioning and arguing with them.

Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Jesus, they were startled and began running up to greet Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”

One of the crowd replied to Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him unable to speak;

and whenever it seizes him [intending to do harm], it throws him down, and he foams [at the mouth], and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. I told Your disciples to drive it out, and they could not do it.”

He replied, “O unbelieving (faithless) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

They brought the boy to Him. When the [demonic] spirit saw Him, immediately it threw the boy into a convulsion, and falling to the ground he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he answered, “Since childhood.

The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”

Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering [around them], He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”

After screaming out and throwing him into a terrible convulsion, it came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse [so still and pale] that many [of the spectators] said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he stood up.

When He had gone indoors, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?”

He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].”

They went on from there and began to go through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it,

because He was teaching His disciples [and preparing them for the future]. He told them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies], and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise [from the dead] three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him [what He meant].

They arrived at Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?”

But they kept quiet, because on the road they had discussed and debated with one another which one [of them] was the greatest.

Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.”

Taking a child, He set him before them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever receives and welcomes one child such as this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not [only] Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us [as Your disciple].”

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will not lose his reward.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe and trust in Me to stumble [that is, to sin or lose faith], it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [one requiring a donkey’s strength to turn it] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.]

If your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell,

[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.]

If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

where their worm [that feeds on the dead] does not die, and the fire is not put out.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”

And Jesus said to them, Truly and solemnly I say to you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death before they see the kingdom of God come in [its] power.

Six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them and became resplendent with divine brightness.

And His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller (cloth dresser, launderer) on earth could bleach them.

And Elijah appeared [there] to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were holding [a protracted] conversation with Jesus.

And Peter took up the conversation, saying, Master, it is good and suitable and beautiful for us to be here. Let us make three booths (tents)—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.

For he did not [really] know what to say, for they were in a violent fright (aghast with dread).

And a cloud threw a shadow upon them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My Son, the [most dearworthy] Beloved One. Be constantly listening to and obeying Him!

And looking around, they suddenly no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus only.

And as they were coming back down the mountain, He admonished and expressly ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man should rise from among the dead.

So they carefully and faithfully kept the matter to themselves, questioning and disputing with one another about what rising from among the dead meant.

And they asked Him, Why do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to come first?

And He said to them, Elijah, it is true, does come first to restore all things and set them to rights. And how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be utterly despised and be treated with contempt and rejected?

But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and [people] did to him whatever they desired, as it is written of him.

And when they came to the [nine] disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and scribes questioning and disputing with them.

And immediately all the crowd, when they saw Jesus [returning from the holy mount, His face and person yet glistening], they were greatly amazed and ran up to Him [and] greeted Him.

And He asked them, About what are you questioning and discussing with them?

And one of the throng replied to Him, Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit.

And wherever it lays hold of him [so as to make him its own], it dashes him down and convulses him, and he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and he [falls into a motionless stupor and] is wasting away. And I asked Your disciples to drive it out, and they were not able [to do it].

And He answered them, O unbelieving generation [without any faith]! How long shall I [have to do] with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.

So they brought [the boy] to Him, and when the spirit saw Him, at once it completely convulsed the boy, and he fell to the ground and kept rolling about, foaming [at the mouth].

And [Jesus] asked his father, How long has he had this? And he answered, From the time he was a little boy.

And it has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us.

And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!

At once the father of the boy gave [an eager, piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my weakness of faith!

But when Jesus noticed that a crowd [of people] came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you to come out of him and never go into him again.

And after giving a [hoarse, clamoring, fear-stricken] shriek of anguish and convulsing him terribly, it came out; and the boy lay [pale and motionless] like a corpse, so that many of them said, He is dead.

But Jesus took [a strong grip of] his hand and began lifting him up, and he stood.

And when He had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we drive it out?

And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.

They went on from there and passed along through Galilee. And He did not wish to have anyone know it,

For He was [engaged for the time being in] teaching His disciples. He said to them, The Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they will put Him to death; and when He has been killed, after three days He will rise [from death].

But they did not comprehend what He was saying, and they were afraid to ask Him [what this statement meant].

And they arrived at Capernaum; and when [they were] in the house, He asked them, What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?

But they kept still, for on the road they had discussed and disputed with one another as to who was the greatest.

And He sat down and called the Twelve [apostles], and He said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.

And He took a little child and put him in the center of their group; and taking him in [His] arms, He said to them,

Whoever in My name and for My sake accepts and receives and welcomes one such child also accepts and receives and welcomes Me; and whoever so receives Me receives not only Me but Him Who sent Me.

John said to Him, Teacher, we saw a man who does not follow along with us driving out demons in Your name, and we forbade him to do it, because he is not one of our band [of Your disciples].

But Jesus said, Do not restrain or hinder or forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My name will soon afterward be able to speak evil of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

For I tell you truly, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to and bear the name of Christ will by no means fail to get his reward.

And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.

And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell (Gehenna).

And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Gehenna),

Where their worm [which preys on the inhabitants and is a symbol of the wounds inflicted on the man himself by his sins] does not die, and the fire is not put out.

For everyone shall be salted with fire.

Salt is good (beneficial), but if salt has lost its saltness, how will you restore [the saltness to] it? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them,

and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.

A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.

Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

“Elijah does come first and restores all things,” he replied. “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.

When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

“How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said.

“And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”

Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.”

But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”

Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.

For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”

He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ —truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

“And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Then he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.’

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them,

and his clothes became dazzling – extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’ – 

because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.

A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him! ’

Suddenly, looking round, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept this word to themselves, questioning what ‘rising from the dead’ meant.

Then they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? ’

‘Elijah does come first and restores all things,’ he replied. ‘Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.’

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.

When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him.

He asked them, ‘What are you arguing with them about? ’

Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.’

He replied to them, ‘You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’

So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

‘How long has this been happening to him? ’ Jesus asked his father. ‘From childhood,’ he said.

‘And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’

Jesus said to him, ‘ “If you can”? Everything is possible for the one who believes.’

Immediately the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief! ’

When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.’

Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, ‘He’s dead.’

But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out? ’

And he told them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.’

Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.

For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.’

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way? ’

But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.’

He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

‘Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.’

John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.’

‘Don’t stop him,’ said Jesus, ‘because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterwards speak evil of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ #– #truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away #– #it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

‘And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavour, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’

Jesus continued, “I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom arrive in power.”

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them,

and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white.

Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus.

Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead.

So they kept it to themselves, wondering, “What’s this ‘rising from the dead’?”

They asked Jesus, “Why do the legal experts say that Elijah must come first?”

He answered, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why was it written that the Human One would suffer many things and be rejected?

In fact, I tell you that Elijah has come, but they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it was written about him.”

When Jesus, Peter, James, and John approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them and legal experts arguing with them.

Suddenly the whole crowd caught sight of Jesus. They ran to greet him, overcome with excitement.

Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about?”

Someone from the crowd responded, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, since he has a spirit that doesn’t allow him to speak.

Wherever it overpowers him, it throws him into a fit. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and stiffens up. So I spoke to your disciples to see if they could throw it out, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus answered them, “You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

They brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a fit. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been going on?” He said, “Since he was a child.

It has often thrown him into a fire or into water trying to kill him. If you can do anything, help us! Show us compassion!”

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can do anything’? All things are possible for the one who has faith.”

At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!”

Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”

After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died.

But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

After Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we throw this spirit out?”

Jesus answered, “Throwing this kind of spirit out requires prayer.”

From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it.

This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.”

But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him.

They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?”

They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest.

He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.”

Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said,

“Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.”

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him. No one who does powerful acts in my name can quickly turn around and curse me.

Whoever isn’t against us is for us.

I assure you that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly be rewarded.

“As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and to be thrown into the lake.

If your hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter into life crippled than to go away with two hands into the fire of hell, which can’t be put out.

If your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter life lame than to be thrown into hell with two feet.

If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out. It’s better for you to enter God’s kingdom with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two.

That’s a place where worms don’t die and the fire never goes out .

Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good; but if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? Maintain salt among yourselves and keep peace with each other.”

Yes!” he went on, “I tell you that there are some people standing here who will not experience death until they see the Kingdom of God come in a powerful way!”

Six days later, Yeshua took Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan and led them up a high mountain privately. As they watched, he began to change form,

and his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than anyone in the world could possibly bleach them.

Then they saw Eliyahu and Moshe speaking with Yeshua.

Kefa said to Yeshua, “It’s good that we’re here, Rabbi! Let’s put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moshe and one for Eliyahu.”

(He didn’t know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud enveloped them; and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Yeshua.

As they came down the mountain, he warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves; but they continued asking each other, “What is this ‘rising from the dead’?”

They also asked him, “Why do the Torah-teachers say that Eliyahu has to come first?”

“Eliyahu will indeed come first,” he answered, “and he will restore everything. Nevertheless, why is it written in the Tanakh that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?

There’s more to it: I tell you that Eliyahu has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as the Tanakh says about him.”

When they got back to the talmidim, they saw a large crowd around them and some Torah-teachers arguing with them.

As soon as the crowd saw him, they were surprised and ran out to greet him.

He asked them, “What’s the discussion about?”

One of the crowd gave him the answer: “Rabbi, I brought my son to you because he has an evil spirit in him that makes him unable to talk.

Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground — he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked your talmidim to drive the spirit out, but they couldn’t do it.”

“People without any trust!” he responded. “How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

They brought the boy to him; and as soon as the spirit saw him, it threw the boy into a convulsion.

Yeshua asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?” “Ever since childhood,” he said;

“and it often tries to kill him by throwing him into the fire or into the water. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us!”

Yeshua said to him, “What do you mean, ‘if you can’? Everything is possible to someone who has trust!”

Instantly the father of the child exclaimed, “I do trust — help my lack of trust!”

When Yeshua saw that the crowd was closing in on them, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and dumb spirit! I command you: come out of him, and never go back into him again!”

Shrieking and throwing the boy into a violent fit, it came out. The boy lay there like a corpse, so that most of the people said he was dead.

But Yeshua took him by the hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.

After Yeshua had gone indoors, his talmidim asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He said to them “This is the kind of spirit that can be driven out only by prayer.”

After leaving that place, they went on through the Galil. Yeshua didn’t want anyone to know,

because he was teaching his talmidim. He told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men who will put him to death; but after he has been killed, three days later he will rise.”

But they didn’t understand what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

They arrived at K’far-Nachum. When Yeshua was inside the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing as we were traveling?”

But they kept quiet; because on the way, they had been arguing with each other about who was the greatest.

He sat down, summoned the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.”

He took a child and stood him among them. Then he put his arms around him and said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”

Yochanan said to him, “Rabbi, we saw a man expelling demons in your name; and because he wasn’t one of us, we told him to stop.”

But Yeshua said, “Don’t stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name will soon after be able to say something bad about me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Indeed, whoever gives you even a cup of water to drink because you come in the name of the Messiah — yes! I tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.

“Whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me — it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown in the sea.

If your hand makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be maimed but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both hands and go to Gei-Hinnom, to unquenchable fire!

And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be lame but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both feet and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom!

And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out! Better that you should be one-eyed but enter the Kingdom of God, rather than keep both eyes and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Indeed, everyone is going to be salted with fire.

Salt is excellent, but if it loses its saltiness, how will you season it? So have salt in yourselves — that is, be at peace with each other.”

I can assure you that some of the people standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom come with power.

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. They went up on a high mountain, where they could be alone. There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed.

And his clothes became much whiter than any bleach on earth could make them.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But Peter and the others were terribly frightened, and he did not know what he was talking about.

The shadow of a cloud passed over and covered them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to what he says!”

At once the disciples looked around, but they saw only Jesus.

As Jesus and his disciples were coming down the mountain, he told them not to say a word about what they had seen, until the Son of Man had been raised from death.

So they kept it to themselves. But they wondered what he meant by the words “raised from death.”

The disciples asked Jesus, “Don't the teachers of the Law of Moses say that Elijah must come before the Messiah does?”

Jesus answered: Elijah certainly will come to get everything ready. But don't the Scriptures also say that the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected?

I can assure you that Elijah has already come. And people treated him just as they wanted to, as the Scriptures say they would.

When Jesus and his three disciples came back down, they saw a large crowd around the other disciples. The teachers of the Law of Moses were arguing with them.

The crowd was really surprised to see Jesus, and everyone hurried over to greet him.

Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about?”

Someone from the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. A demon keeps him from talking.

Whenever the demon attacks my son, it throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grit his teeth in pain. Then he becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn't do it.”

Jesus said, “You people don't have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

They brought the boy, and as soon as the demon saw Jesus, it made the boy shake all over. He fell down and began rolling on the ground and foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?” The man answered, “Ever since he was a child.

The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!”

Jesus replied, “Why do you say ‘if you can’? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!”

At once the boy's father shouted, “I do have faith! Please help me to have even more.”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering fast, he spoke sternly to the evil spirit that had kept the boy from speaking or hearing. He said, “I order you to come out of the boy! Don't ever bother him again.”

The spirit screamed and made the boy shake all over. Then it went out of him. The boy looked dead, and almost everyone said he was.

But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.

After Jesus and the disciples had gone back home and were alone, they asked him, “Why couldn't we force out that demon?”

Jesus answered, “Only prayer can force out this kind of demon.”

Jesus left with his disciples and started through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know about it,

because he was teaching the disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to people who would kill him. But three days later he would rise to life.

The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, and they were afraid to ask.

Jesus and his disciples went to his home in Capernaum. After they were inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about along the way?”

They had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest, and so they did not answer.

After Jesus sat down and told the twelve disciples to gather around him, he said, “If you want the place of honor, you must become a slave and serve others!”

Then Jesus asked a child to stand near him. He put his arm around the child and said,

“When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me.”

John said, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of people. But he wasn't one of us, and we told him to stop.”

Jesus said to his disciples: Don't stop him! No one who works miracles in my name will soon turn and say something bad about me.

Anyone who isn't against us is for us.

And anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, just because you belong to me, will surely be rewarded.

It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks.

So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! You would be better off to go into life paralyzed than to have two hands and be thrown into the fires of hell that never go out.

If your foot causes you to sin, chop it off. You would be better off to go into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

If your eye causes you to sin, get rid of it. You would be better off to go into God's kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

The worms there never die, and the fire never stops burning.

Everyone must be salted with fire.

Salt is good. But if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made salty again? Have salt among you and live at peace with each other.

And he said to them, Verily I say unto you, There are some of those standing here that shall not taste death until they shall have seen the kingdom of God come in power.

And after six days Jesus takes with [him] Peter and James and John, and takes them up on a high mountain by themselves apart. And he was transfigured before them:

and his garments became shining, exceeding white [as snow], such as fuller on earth could not whiten [them].

And there appeared to them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answering says to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we should be here; and let us make three tabernacles, for thee one, and for Moses one, and for Elias one.

For he knew not what he should say, for they were filled with fear.

And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and there came a voice out of the cloud, *This* is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly having looked around, they no longer saw any one, but Jesus alone with themselves.

And as they descended from the mountain, he charged them that they should relate to no one what they had seen, unless when the Son of man should be risen from among [the] dead.

And they kept that saying, questioning among themselves, what rising from among [the] dead was.

And they asked him saying, Why do the scribes say that Elias must first have come?

And he answering said to them, Elias indeed, having first come, restores all things; and how is it written of the Son of man that he must suffer much, and be set at nought:

but I say unto you that Elias also is come, and they have done to him whatever they would, as it is written of him.

And when he came to the disciples he saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing against them.

And immediately all the crowd seeing him were amazed, and running to [him], saluted him.

And he asked them, What do ye question with them about?

And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;

and wheresoever it seizes him it tears him, and he foams and gnashes his teeth, and he is withering away. And I spoke to thy disciples, that they might cast him out, and they could not.

But he answering them says, O unbelieving generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me.

And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.

And he asked his father, How long a time is it that it has been like this with him? And he said, From childhood;

and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst [do] anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us.

And Jesus said to him, The 'if thou couldst' is [if thou couldst] believe: all things are possible to him that believes.

And immediately the father of the young child crying out said [with tears], I believe, help mine unbelief.

But Jesus, seeing that [the] crowd was running up together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, *I* command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And having cried out and torn [him] much, he came out; and he became as if dead, so that the most said, He is dead.

But Jesus, having taken hold of him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

And when he was entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Wherefore could not *we* cast him out?

And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.

And going forth from thence they went through Galilee; and he would not that any one knew it;

for he taught his disciples and said to them, The Son of man is delivered into men's hands, and they shall kill him; and having been killed, after three days he shall rise again.

But they understood not the saying, and feared to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, Of what were ye reasoning by the way?

And they remained silent, for by the way they had been reasoning with one another who [was] greatest.

And sitting down he called the twelve; and he says to them, If any one would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.

And taking a little child he set it in their midst, and having taken it in his arms he said to them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.

And John answered him saying, Teacher, we saw some one casting out demons in thy name, who does not follow us, and we forbad him, because he does not follow us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no one who shall do a miracle in my name, and be able soon [after] to speak ill of me;

for he who is not against us is for us.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in [my] name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

And whosoever shall be a snare to one of the little ones who believe [in me], it were better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea.

And if thy hand serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having thy two hands to go away into hell, into the fire unquenchable;

[where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched].

And if thy foot serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life lame, than having thy two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire unquenchable;

[where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched].

And if thine eye serve as a snare to thee, cast it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire,

where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt [is] good, but if the salt is become saltless, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

And He was saying to them, “Truly I say to you that there are some of the ones standing here who will by-no-means taste death until they see the kingdom of God having come in power”.

And after six days, Jesus takes along Peter and James and John, and brings them up on a high mountain privately, alone. And He was transfigured in front of them.

And His garments became shining, very white, such as a bleacher on earth is not able to make so white.

And Elijah appeared to them, with Moses. And they were talking-with Jesus.

And having responded, Peter says to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. And let us make three dwellings— one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah”.

For he did not know what he should respond, for they became terrified.

And there came-to-be a cloud overshadowing them. And a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Be listening-to Him”.

And suddenly, having looked around, they no longer saw anyone with themselves but Jesus alone.

And while they were coming down from the mountain, He gave orders to them that they should relate to no one the things which they saw, except when the Son of Man rises-up from the dead.

And they held the matter to themselves, discussing what the ‘rising-up from the dead’ meant.

And they were questioning Him, saying “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

And the One said to them, “Elijah, having come first, restores all things— and-yet how has it been written for the Son of Man that He would suffer many things and be treated-with-contempt?

But I say to you that Elijah indeed has come, and they did to him whatever they were wanting, just as it has been written for him”.

And having come to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes debating with them.

And immediately all the multitude, having seen Him, were struck-with-wonder. And running-up, they were greeting Him.

And He asked them, “What are you debating with them?”

And one from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought my son having a mute spirit to You.

And wherever it overcomes him, it throws-him-to-the-ground, and he foams-at-the-mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes-stiff. And I spoke to Your disciples in order that they might cast it out, and they were not strong-enough ”.

And the One, having responded to them, says “O unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear-with you? Bring him to Me”.

And they brought him to Him. And having seen Him, the spirit immediately convulsed him. And having fallen on the ground, he was rolling-himself while foaming-at-the-mouth.

And He asked his father, “How long is it since this has happened to him?” And the one said, “From childhood.

And it often threw him even into fire and into waters in order that it might destroy him. But if You are able to do anything, help us, having felt-deep-feelings [of pity] toward us”.

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You are able?’ All things are possible for the one believing”.

Immediately, having cried-out, the father of the child was saying, “I believe. Help my unbelief ”.

And Jesus, having seen that a crowd is running-together-upon them, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you— come out of him and enter into him no longer”.

And having cried-out, and having convulsed him greatly, it came out. And he became as if dead, so that the majority were saying that “He died”.

But Jesus, having taken hold of his hand, raised him. And he stood-up.

And He having entered into a house, His disciples were questioning Him privately, “Why is it that we were not able to cast it out?”

And He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer”.

And having gone forth from there, they were passing through Galilee. And He was not wanting anyone to know it.

For He was teaching His disciples, and saying to them that “The Son of Man is being handed-over into the hands of men. And they will kill Him. And having been killed, He will rise-up after three days”.

But the ones were not-understanding the statement, and they were fearing to question Him.

And they came to Capernaum. And having come-to-be in the house, He was questioning them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But the ones were being silent. For on the way they argued with one another who was greater.

And having sat-down, He called the twelve. And He says to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all”.

And having taken a child, He stood him in the middle of them. And having taken him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one such-as-these children on the basis of My name, welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not [merely] welcome Me, but the One having sent Me forth”.

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting-out demons in Your name. And we were forbidding him because he was not following us”.

But Jesus said, “Do not be forbidding him. For there is no one who will do a miracle on the basis of My name, and soon be able to speak-evil-of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name that you are Christ’s— truly I say to you that he will by no means lose his reward.

“And whoever causes one of these little ones believing in Me to fall— it would be better for him if instead a donkey’s millstone were lying around his neck, and he had been thrown into the sea.

And if your hand should be causing you to fall, cut it off. It is better that you enter into life crippled than go into Gehenna having two hands— into the inextinguishable fire.

And if your foot should be causing you to fall, cut it off. It is better that you enter into life lame than be thrown into Gehenna having two feet.

And if your eye should be causing you to fall, throw it out. It is better that you enter into the kingdom of God one-eyed than be thrown into Gehenna having two eyes—

where their worm does not come-to-an-end, and the fire is not quenched.

For everyone will be salted with fire.

“Salt is good. But if the salt should become unsalty, with what will you season it? Be having salt in yourselves, and be living-in-peace with one another”.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, and was transfigured before them.

And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller upon earth can make white.

And there appeared to them Elias with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he knew not what he said: for they were struck with fear.

And there was a cloud overshadowing them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my most beloved son; hear ye him.

And immediately looking about, they saw no man any more, but Jesus only with them.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them not to tell any man what things they had seen, till the Son of man shall be risen again from the dead.

And they kept the word to themselves; questioning together what that should mean, when he shall be risen from the dead.

And they asked him, saying: Why then do the Pharisees and scribes say that Elias must come first?

Who answering, said to them: Elias, when he shall come first, shall restore all things; and as it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things and be despised.

But I say to you, that Elias also is come, (and they have done to him whatsoever they would,) as it is written of him.

And coming to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes disputing with them.

And presently all the people seeing Jesus, were astonished and struck with fear; and running to him, they saluted him.

And he asked them: What do you question about among you?

And one of the multitude, answering, said: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit.

Who, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth with the teeth, and pineth away; and I spoke to thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not.

Who answering them, said: O incredulous generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him; and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming.

And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he said: From his infancy:

And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us.

And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief.

And when Jesus saw the multitude running together, he threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him; and enter not any more into him.

And crying out, and greatly tearing him, he went out of him, and he became as dead, so that many said: He is dead.

But Jesus taking him by the hand, lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples secretly asked him: Why could not we cast him out?

And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And departing from thence, they passed through Galilee, and he would not that any man should know it.

And he taught his disciples, and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.

But they understood not the word, and they were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way?

But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest.

And sitting down, he called the twelve, and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all.

And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he saith to them:

Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name, receiveth me. And whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him.

But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me.

For he that is not against you, is for you.

For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good. But if the salt became unsavoury; wherewith will you season it? Have salt in you, and have peace among you.

Then Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that some of you people standing here will see God’s kingdom come with power before you die.”

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. While these followers watched him, Jesus was changed.

His clothes became shining white—whiter than anyone on earth could make them.

Then two men were there talking with Jesus. They were Elijah and Moses.

Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter did not know what to say, because he and the other two followers were so afraid.

Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my Son, the one I love. Obey him!”

The followers looked, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.

As Jesus and the followers were walking back down the mountain, he gave them these instructions: “Don’t tell anyone about what you saw on the mountain. Wait until after the Son of Man rises from death. Then you can tell people what you saw.”

So the followers waited to say anything about what they saw. But they discussed among themselves what Jesus meant about rising from death.

They asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah must come first. Elijah makes all things the way they should be. But why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will think he is worth nothing?

I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him all the bad things they wanted to do. The Scriptures said this would happen to him.”

Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They saw many people around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with the followers.

When the people saw Jesus, they were very surprised and ran to welcome him.

Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about with the teachers of the law?”

A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is controlled by an evil spirit that keeps him from talking.

The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus answered, “You people today don’t believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”

So the followers brought the boy to Jesus. When the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. The boy fell down and rolled on the ground. He was foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?” The father answered, “Since he was very young.

The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.”

Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!”

Jesus saw that all the people were running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit. He said, “You evil spirit that makes this boy deaf and stops him from talking—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”

The evil spirit screamed. It caused the boy to fall on the ground again, and then it came out. The boy looked as if he was dead. Many people said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.

Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”

Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer.”

Then Jesus and his followers left there and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want the people to know where they were.

He wanted to teach his followers alone. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the control of other men, who will kill him. After three days, he will rise from death.”

But the followers did not understand what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. They went into a house, and Jesus said to them, “I heard you arguing on the way here today. What were you arguing about?”

But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

Jesus sat down and called the twelve apostles to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be the most important must make others more important than themselves. They must serve everyone else.”

Then Jesus took a small child and stood the child in front of the followers. He held the child in his arms and said,

“Whoever accepts children like these in my name is accepting me. And anyone who accepts me is also accepting the one who sent me.”

Then John said, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of someone. He is not one of us. So we told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group.”

Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. Whoever uses my name to do powerful things will not soon say bad things about me.

Whoever is not against us is with us.

I can assure you that anyone who helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Messiah will definitely get a reward.

“If one of these little children believes in me, and someone causes that child to sin, it will be very bad for that person. It would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the sea.

If your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body and have eternal life than to have two hands and go to hell. There the fire never stops.

If your foot makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body and have eternal life than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

If your eye makes you sin, take it out. It is better for you to have only one eye and enter God’s kingdom than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

The worms that eat the people in hell never die. The fire there is never stopped.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.

“Salt is good. But if it loses its salty taste, you can’t make it good again. So, don’t lose that good quality of salt you have. And live in peace with each other.”

Jesus then said to them, ‘I tell you this: Some people who are standing here will see God begin to rule in his kingdom with great power. They will see that before they die.’

Six days after that, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go with him. Jesus led them up a high mountain, where they were alone together. Peter, James and John saw Jesus change in front of them.

His clothes became very white; they were shining. They were a brighter white than anyone on earth could wash them.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared in front of the three disciples. Elijah and Moses were talking with Jesus.

So Peter said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, it is good that we are here. Please let us build three huts. One hut will be for you. One hut will be for Moses. And one hut will be for Elijah.’

Peter did not really know what to say. That was because the three disciples were very afraid.

Then a cloud appeared and it covered them all. A voice spoke from the cloud and it said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him.’

At that moment, the three disciples looked around. They saw that nobody else was there now. Only Jesus was there with them.

While they were walking down the mountain, Jesus said to the three disciples, ‘You must not tell anyone now about the things that you have just seen. One day the Son of Man will become alive again after his death. Then you can tell people about these things.’

The three disciples kept these words secret. But they talked together about the words, ‘become alive again after his death’. They asked each other, ‘What does this mean?’

Then the three disciples asked Jesus, ‘Why do the teachers of God's Law say that God's prophet Elijah must return first, before the Messiah comes?’

Jesus said to them, ‘Elijah does come first. He makes everything ready. But what is written in the Bible about the Son of Man? It says that people will cause him to suffer a lot. They will think that he is nothing.

But I tell you that Elijah has already come. People did to him everything that they wanted to do. The Bible already showed that those things would happen to him.’

They reached the place where the other disciples were. They saw that there was a large crowd there with them. Some teachers of God's Law were arguing with the disciples.

The people in the crowd saw Jesus and immediately they were very surprised. They ran to say ‘hello’ to Jesus.

Jesus asked his disciples, ‘What are you arguing about with the teachers of God's Law?’

A man in the crowd answered. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is not able to speak because he has a bad spirit.

When the bad spirit takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. Water comes out of his mouth and he bites his teeth together. Then his body stops moving. I asked your disciples to send the spirit out of him. But they were not able to do it.’

Jesus replied, ‘You people today still do not believe in God. I have been with you for a long time and still you do not believe. It is difficult for me to be patient with you. Bring the boy to me.’

So the people brought the boy to Jesus. When the bad spirit saw Jesus, it immediately caused the boy's body to shake strongly. The boy fell onto the ground and he rolled about. Water was coming from his mouth.

Jesus asked the boy's father, ‘How long has he been like this?’ ‘He has been like this since he was a small boy,’ the father replied.

‘Often the spirit has caused him to fall into the fire or into water. It is trying to kill him. Please be kind to us. If you can do anything, help us!’

Jesus said to the father, ‘You should not say, “If you can do anything.” Everything is possible for those people who believe.’

Immediately, the boy's father shouted, ‘Oh! I believe! Help me to believe more!’

Jesus saw that the crowd of people was quickly becoming bigger. So he told the bad spirit to stop. Jesus said to it, ‘Spirit, I am telling you that you must leave this boy. He cannot hear or speak because of you. I tell you to come out of him! You must never go into him again.’

The spirit screamed. It caused the boy's body to shake many times. Then it came out of him. The boy seemed to be dead, so many people said, ‘He is dead.’

But Jesus held the boy's hand and he helped the boy to stand up.

Jesus went into a house and the disciples were alone with him. Then they asked him, ‘Why could we not cause the bad spirit to leave the boy?’

Jesus said to them, ‘You must pray. This kind of spirit will not leave a person unless you pray.’

Jesus and his disciples left that place. They passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was.

That was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, ‘Soon, they will give the Son of Man to powerful people. They will take him away and they will kill him. But three days after that, he will become alive again.’

The disciples did not understand what Jesus had said. But they were afraid to ask him.

Jesus and his disciples arrived at Capernaum. When they were in the house, Jesus asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’

But they did not say anything. They did not want to tell Jesus why they were arguing. On the way, they had argued about who was the most important disciple.

Jesus sat down. He told the 12 apostles to come to him. Then he said to them, ‘If you want to be the leader, make yourself less important than everyone else. You must become the servant of everyone.’

Then Jesus brought a child to stand in the middle of them all. He took hold of the child and he said to the disciples,

‘If someone accepts a child like this because of me, then that person also accepts me. If he accepts me, then he is not only accepting me. He is also accepting my Father God, who sent me.’

John said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we saw a man who was causing bad spirits to go out of people. He was using your authority to do it. But he is not in our group. So we told him that he must not do it.’

‘Do not tell him to stop,’ Jesus said. ‘That man is using my authority to do powerful things. Someone who does that cannot immediately say anything bad about me.

If someone is not against us, he is working to help us.

Somebody may give you a cup of water because you are a servant of the Messiah. I tell you this: God will bless that person and he will never lose God's help.

A person who believes in me may not seem important. But you should never make that person do wrong things. Do not do that! It would be better if someone tied a big stone around your neck and then he threw you into the sea!

If your hand causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off. You will only have one hand, but you can have God's true life. It will be much worse for you if you keep both your hands and go to hell. There, the fire always burns and never stops.

If your foot causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off. You will only have one foot, but you can have God's true life. It will be much worse if you keep your two feet and go to hell.

If your eye causes you to do wrong things, then you should remove it. Then you will only have one eye, but you can go into the kingdom of God. It will be much worse if you keep both your eyes and God throws you into hell.

“In hell, the worms do not die, and the fire never goes out.” 

God will put fire on everybody, as people put salt on food.

Salt is good. But if your salt is not salty any more, you cannot make it salty again. You should be like good salt and love each other. Do not cause trouble among yourselves.’

He said to them, “Amen I tell you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain where they were alone by themselves. There he was transfigured in front of them.

His clothes became radiant, dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He did not know what to say because they were terrified.

A cloud appeared and overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept the matter to themselves, discussing with one another what this “rising from the dead” meant.

They asked him, “Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?”

He said to them, “Elijah does come first and restores all things. Why was it also written about the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be rejected?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it was written about him.”

When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some experts in the law were arguing with them.

As soon as all the people in the crowd saw Jesus, they were very excited and ran to greet him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

One man from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

“O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied. “How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

They brought the boy to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw him, it threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?” “From childhood,” he said.

“It has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

“If you can?” Jesus said to him. “All things are possible for the one who believes.”

The child’s father immediately cried out and said with tears, “I do believe. Help me with my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. “You mute and deaf spirit,” he said, “I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”

The spirit screamed, shook the boy violently, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many of them said, “He’s dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him up, and he stood up.

When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to drive it out?”

He said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out, except by prayer and fasting.”

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this,

because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.”

But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Then he took a little child and placed him in their midst. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not try to stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil about me.

Whoever is not against us is for us.

Amen I tell you: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall into sin, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around his neck.

If your hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed, than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

If your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell,

‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

If your eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good. But if the salt loses its flavor, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.

And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

And 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.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

For the one who is not against us is for us.

For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.

And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

And 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.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me.

For the one who is not against us is for us.

For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will not ·die [^Ltaste death] before they see the kingdom of God ·come [arrive] with power.” [^C“Seeing the kingdom of God” may refer to the Transfiguration that follows (9:1–8), Jesus’ resurrection, or the destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70.]

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John [^Land led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; ^Ttransfigured].

His clothes became shining white, whiter than any ·person [launderer on earth] could ·make them [bleach them].

Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [^CGod had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see 6:1); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]

Peter said to Jesus, “·Teacher [^LRabbi], it is good that we are here. Let us make three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [^CPerhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.]

Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.

Then a cloud came and ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly loved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Mark 1:11]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”

Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they ·obeyed Jesus [kept this statement/matter to themselves], but they discussed what he meant about rising from the dead.

Then they asked Jesus, “Why do the ·teachers of the law [scribes] say that Elijah must come first [Mal. 3:1; 4:5]?”

Jesus answered, “·They are right to say that Elijah must come first and [^LElijah is indeed coming, and he will] ·make everything the way it should be [restore/prepare everything]. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and ·that people will treat him as if he were nothing [be despised; be treated with contempt; be rejected; Is. 52:13—53:12]?

[^LBut] I tell you that Elijah has already come. And ·people [^Lthey] did to him whatever they wanted to do, just as ·the Scriptures said it would happen [it is written about him].”

When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back to the other ·followers [disciples], they saw a great crowd around them and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] arguing with them.

But as soon as the crowd saw Jesus, the people were ·surprised [amazed] and ran to welcome him.

Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about?”

A man [in the crowd] answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that ·stops him from talking [makes him mute].

When the spirit attacks him, it throws him on the ground. Then my son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes ·very stiff [rigid]. I asked your ·followers [disciples] to ·force [drive; cast] the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus answered, “You ·people have no faith [unbelieving/faithless generation]. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So ·the followers [^Lthey] brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it ·made the boy lose control of himself [threw the boy into convulsions], and he fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” The father answered, “Since ·he was very young [childhood].

The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to ·kill [destroy] him. If you can do anything for him, please have ·pity [compassion] on us and help us.”

Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help ·me to believe more [me not to doubt; me overcome my unbelief; ^Lmy unbelief]!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he ·ordered [rebuked] the ·evil [defiling; ^Lunclean] spirit, saying, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”

The evil spirit screamed and ·caused the boy to fall on the ground again [convulsed him violently]. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and many people said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.

When Jesus went into the house, his ·followers [disciples] began asking him privately, “Why couldn’t we ·force [drive; cast] that evil spirit out?”

Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer.”

Then Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] left that place and went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know where he was,

because he was teaching his ·followers [disciples]. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be ·handed over [delivered over; betrayed] to ·people [^Lhuman hands], and they will kill him [^Cthe “handing over” may be Judas’ betrayal or God’s actions in “giving up” his Son to accomplish salvation; Rom. 4:25]. After three days, he will rise from the dead.”

But they did not understand what Jesus meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went to Capernaum. When they went into a house there, he asked them, “What were you ·arguing about [discussing] on the road?”

But they did not answer, because their ·argument [discussion] on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

Jesus sat down and called ·the twelve apostles [the Twelve] to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be ·the most important [first] must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then Jesus took a small child and had ·him [or her; ^Cthe Greek here does not specify gender] stand among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said,

“Whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] a child like this in my name [^Cas a representative or follower of Jesus] accepts me. And whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] me accepts [not only me, but] the One who sent me.” [^CChildren had low social status, so the saying indicates concern for the lowly.]

Then John said, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name [^Cinvoking your authority] to ·force [drive; cast] demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group.”

But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him, because anyone who uses my name to do powerful things will not ·easily [quickly] say evil things about me.

Whoever is not against us is ·with [for] us.

I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a drink of water because you belong to the ·Christ [Messiah] will ·truly get [^Lcertainly not lose] his reward.

“If someone causes one of these little children who believes in me to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], it would be better for that person to have a ·large stone [large millstone; ^Lmillstone of a donkey] tied around his neck and be ·drowned [^Lthrown] in the sea.

If your hand causes you ·to sin [lose faith; stumble], cut it off. It is better for you ·to lose part of your body and live forever [^Lto enter life maimed] than to have two hands and go to ·hell [^LGehenna; ^Ca valley outside of Jerusalem where in the OT period children were sacrificed to a pagan god; later used as a burning trash heap; a metaphor for hell], where the fire never goes out.

| In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never put out.|

If your foot causes you to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], cut it off. It is better for you ·to lose part of your body and to live forever [^Lto enter life crippled] than to have two feet and be thrown into ·hell [Gehenna; v. 43].

| In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never put out.|

If your eye causes you to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], take it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into ·hell [Gehenna; v. 43].

In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never put out.

Every person will be salted with fire. [^CThe meaning of this proverb is uncertain; it may mean that the testing of believers purifies (fire) and preserves (salt); or it may refer to believers as God’s covenant people, since salt and fire were part of the OT sacrificial system; see Lev. 2:3; Num. 18:9.]

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its salty taste, you cannot make it salty again. So, ·be full of salt [^Lhave salt in/among yourselves; ^Csalt here may symbolize fellowship within the covenant], and have peace with each other.”

2 Christ’s transfiguration. 7 Christ must be heard. 11 Of Elias and John Baptist. 14 The possessed healed. 23 Faith can do all things. 31 Christ foretelleth his death. 33 Who is greatest among the Apostles. 36 Christ taketh a child in his arms. 42 To offend. 50 Salt. Peace. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And six days after, Jesus taketh unto him Peter, and James, and John, and carrieth them up into an high mountain out of the way alone, and his shape was changed before them.

And his raiment did shine, and was very white as snow, so white as no fuller can make upon the earth.

And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter answered, and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: let us make also three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

Yet he knew not what he said: for they were afraid.

And there was a cloud that shadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly they looked round about, and saw no more any man save Jesus only with them.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them, that they should tell no man what they had seen, save when the Son of man were risen from the dead again.

So they kept that matter to themselves, and demanded one of another, what the rising from the dead again should mean.

Also they asked him, saying, Why say the Scribes, that Elijah must first come?

And he answered, and said unto them, Elijah verily shall first come, and restore all things: and as it is written of the Son of man, he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, (and they have done unto him whatsoever they would) as it is written of him.

¶ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes disputing with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were amazed, and ran to him, and saluted him.

Then he asked the Scribes, What dispute you among yourselves?

And one of the company answered, and said, Master, I have brought my son unto thee, which hath a dumb spirit:

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples, that they should cast him out, and they could not.

Then he answered him, and said, O faithless generation, how long now shall I be with you! how long now shall I suffer you! Bring him unto me.

So they brought him unto him: and as soon as the spirit saw him, he tare him, and he fell down on the ground wallowing and foaming.

Then he asked his father, How long time is it since he hath been thus? And he said, Of a child.

And oft times he casteth him into the fire, and into the water to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, help us, and have compassion upon us.

And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe it, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child crying with tears, said, Lord, I believe: help my unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Then the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out, and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took his hand, and lifted him up, and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him secretly, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can by no other means come forth, but by prayer and fasting.

¶ And they departed thence, and went together through Galilee, and he would not that any should have known it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, but after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

After, he came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among you by the way?

And they held their peace: for by the way they reasoned among themselves, who should be the chiefest.

And he sat down and called the twelve, and said to them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant unto all.

And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and took him in his arms, and said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my Name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

¶ Then John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils by thy Name, which followeth not us, and we forbade him, because he followeth us not.

¶ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man that can do a miracle by my Name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For whosoever is not against us, is on our part.

And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my Name’s sake, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, that believe in me, it were better for him rather, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea.

Wherefore if thine hand cause thee to offend, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.

Likewise, if thy foot cause thee to offend, cut it off: it is better for thee to go halt into life, than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.

And if thine eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out: it is better for thee to go into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire,

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.

For every man shall be salted with fire: and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt be unsavory, wherewith shall it be seasoned? have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see God’s kingdom arrive with power.”

After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. Jesus’ appearance changed in front of them.

His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(Peter didn’t know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.)

Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus.

On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life.

They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.”

So they asked him, “Don’t the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully?

Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.”

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were arguing with them.

All the people were very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

Jesus asked the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “What are you arguing about with them?”

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk.

Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.”

Jesus said to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.

Jesus asked his father, “How long has he been like this?” The father replied, “He has been this way since he was a child.

The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”

Jesus said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”

The child’s father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith.”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, “You spirit that won’t let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”

The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!”

Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?”

He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.” 

They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was

because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life.”

The disciples didn’t understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.

He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.”

Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them,

“Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”

Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me.

Whoever isn’t against us is for us.

I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

“These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.

“So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.

If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter God’s kingdom with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out.

Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another.”

And he went on to say, “I tell you, there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.”

Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. As they looked on, a change came over Jesus,

and his clothes became shining white—whiter than anyone in the world could wash them.

Then the three disciples saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus.

Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Teacher, how good it is that we are here! We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He and the others were so frightened that he did not know what to say.

Then a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my own dear Son—listen to him!”

They took a quick look around but did not see anyone else; only Jesus was with them.

As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from death.”

They obeyed his order, but among themselves they started discussing the matter, “What does this ‘rising from death’ mean?”

And they asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?”

His answer was, “Elijah is indeed coming first in order to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and be rejected?

I tell you, however, that Elijah has already come and that people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scriptures say about him.”

When they joined the rest of the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some teachers of the Law arguing with them.

When the people saw Jesus, they were greatly surprised, and ran to him and greeted him.

Jesus asked his disciples, “What are you arguing with them about?”

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, because he has an evil spirit in him and cannot talk.

Whenever the spirit attacks him, it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grits his teeth, and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus said to them, “How unbelieving you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me!”

They brought him to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a fit, so that he fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

“How long has he been like this?” Jesus asked the father. “Ever since he was a child,” he replied.

“Many times the evil spirit has tried to kill him by throwing him in the fire and into water. Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!”

“Yes,” said Jesus, “if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith.”

The father at once cried out, “I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!”

Jesus noticed that the crowd was closing in on them, so he gave a command to the evil spirit. “Deaf and dumb spirit,” he said, “I order you to come out of the boy and never go into him again!”

The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a bad fit, and came out. The boy looked like a corpse, and everyone said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him rise, and he stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn't we drive the spirit out?”

“Only prayer can drive this kind out,” answered Jesus; “nothing else can.”

Jesus and his disciples left that place and went on through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was,

because he was teaching his disciples: “The Son of Man will be handed over to those who will kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life.”

But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and after going indoors Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

But they would not answer him, because on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest.

Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all.”

Then he took a child and had him stand in front of them. He put his arms around him and said to them,

“Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man who was driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group.”

“Do not try to stop him,” Jesus told them, “because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say evil things about me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive a reward.

“If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around the neck and be thrown into the sea.

So if your hand makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than to keep both hands and go off to hell, to the fire that never goes out.

And if your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a foot than to keep both feet and be thrown into hell.

And if your eye makes you lose your faith, take it out! It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into hell.

There ‘the worms that eat them never die, and the fire that burns them is never put out.’

“Everyone will be purified by fire as a sacrifice is purified by salt.

“Salt is good; but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? “Have the salt of friendship among yourselves, and live in peace with one another.”

Then He said to them, “I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them,

and His clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.

A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!

Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept this word to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

“Elijah does come first and restores everything,” He replied. “How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.

All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him.

Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.”

So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

“How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said.

“And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’? Everything is possible to the one who believes.”

Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.”

But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting].”

Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah—I assure you: He will never lose his reward.

“But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,

[ where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,

where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.”

Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth. Some of you standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before you die.”

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. While these followers watched, Jesus was changed.

His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them.

Then two men appeared, talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah.

Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.

Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Obey him!”

Then Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.

As Jesus and his followers were walking back down the mountain, he commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the things you saw on the mountain. Wait till the Son of Man rises from death. Then you may tell.”

So the followers obeyed Jesus and said nothing about what they had seen. But they discussed what Jesus meant about rising from death.

They asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus answered, “They are right to say that Elijah must come first. Elijah makes all things the way they should be. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and that people will treat him as if he were nothing?

I tell you that Elijah has already come. And people did to him whatever they wanted to do. The Scriptures said this would happen to him.”

Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They saw a great crowd around them. The teachers of the law were arguing with them.

But when the crowd saw Jesus, they were surprised and ran to welcome him.

Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about with the teachers of the law?”

A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit from the devil in him. This spirit stops him from talking.

The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. My son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus answered, “You people don’t believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I go on being patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”

So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. He fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming from his mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” The father answered, “Since he was very young.

The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for him who believes.”

Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!”

Jesus saw that a crowd was running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit, saying, “You deaf and dumb spirit—I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”

The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead. And many people said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.

Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why couldn’t we force that evil spirit out?”

Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer.”

Then Jesus and his followers left that place and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was

because he wanted to teach his followers alone. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be given to men who will kill him. After three days, he will rise from death.”

But the followers did not understand what Jesus meant. And they were afraid to ask.

Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum and went into a house there. Then Jesus said to them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

Jesus sat down and called the 12 apostles to him. He said, “If anyone wants to be the most important, then he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then Jesus took a small child and had him stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said,

“If anyone accepts children like these in my name, then he is also accepting me. And if he accepts me, then he is also accepting the One who sent me.”

Then John said, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group.”

Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. Anyone who uses my name to do powerful things will not say evil things about me.

He who is not against us is with us.

I tell you the truth. If anyone helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ, then he will truly get his reward.

“If one of these little children believes in me, and someone causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for him. It would be better for him to have a large stone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two hands and go to hell. In that place the fire never goes out.

[In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.]

If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

[In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.]

If your eye causes you to sin, take it out. It is better for you to have only one eye but have life forever. That is much better than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never stopped.

Every person will be salted with fire.

“Salt is good. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you cannot make it salty again. So, be full of goodness. And have peace with each other.”

Then he told them, “I tell all of you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”

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,

and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah appeared to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter told Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here! Let’s set up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(Peter didn’t know how to respond, because they were terrified.)

Then a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Keep on listening to him!”

Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus alone.

On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept the matter to themselves but argued about what “rising from the dead” meant.

So they asked him, “Don’t the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

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?

But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him.”

As they approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them.

The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

He asked the scribes, “What are you arguing about with them?”

A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won’t let him talk.

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 out, but they didn’t have the power.”

Jesus told them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

Then Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He said, “Since he was a child.

The spirit 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!”

Jesus told him, “‘If you are able?’ Everything is possible for the person who believes!”

With tears flowing, the child’s father at once cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief!”

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!”

The spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead.

But Jesus took his hand and helped him up, and he stood up.

When Jesus came home, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive the spirit out?”

He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

Then they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to find out about it,

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.”

They didn’t understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest.

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.”

Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He took him in his arms and told them,

“Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

John told Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn’t a follower like us.”

But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards.

Whoever is not against us is for us.

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah will never lose his reward.”

“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.

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, to the fire that cannot be put out.

In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.

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.

In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.

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.

In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.

Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

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.”

Then he added, “Believe me, there are some of you standing here who will know nothing of death until you have seen the kingdom of God coming in its power!”

Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John with him and led them high up on a hill-side where they were entirely alone. His whole appearance changed before their eyes, while his clothes became white, dazzling white—whiter than any earthly bleaching could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to the disciples and stood there in conversation with Jesus. Peter burst out to Jesus, “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here! Shall we put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah?”

He really did not know what to say, for they were very frightened. Then came a cloud which overshadowed them and a voice spoke out of the cloud, “This is my dearly-loved Son. Listen to him!”

Then, quite suddenly they looked all round them and saw nobody at all with them but Jesus. And as they came down the hill-side, he warned them not to tell anybody what they had seen till “the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead”. They treasured this remark and tried to puzzle out among themselves what “Rising from the dead” could mean. Then they asked him this question, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come before Christ?”

“It is quite true,” he told them, “that Elijah does come first, and begins the restitution of all things. But what does the scripture say about the Son of Man? This: that he must go through much suffering and be treated with contempt! I tell you that not only has Elijah come already but they have done to him exactly what they wanted—just as the scripture says of him.”

Then as they rejoined the other disciples, they saw that they were surrounded by a large crowd, and that some of the scribes were arguing with them. As soon as the people saw Jesus, they ran forward excitedly to welcome him.

“What is the trouble?” Jesus asked them.

A man from the crowd answered, “Master, I brought my son to you because he has a dumb spirit. Wherever he is, it gets hold of him, throws him down on the ground and there he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. It’s simply wearing him out. I did speak to your disciples to get them to drive it out, but they hadn’t the power to do it.”

Jesus answered them, “Oh, what a faithless people you are! How long must I be with you, how long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”

So they brought the boy to him, and as soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it convulsed the boy, who fell to the ground and writhed there, foaming at the mouth.

“How long has he been like this?” Jesus asked the father.

“Ever since he was a child,” he replied. “Again and again it has thrown him into the fire or into water to finish him off. But if you can do anything, please take pity on us and help us.”

“If you can do anything!” retorted Jesus. “Everything is possible to the man who believes.”

“I do believe,” the boy’s father burst out. “Help me to believe more!”

When Jesus noticed that a crowd was rapidly gathering, he spoke sharply to the evil spirit, with the words, “I command you, deaf and dumb spirit, come out of this boy, and never go into him again!”

The spirit gave a loud scream and after a dreadful convulsion left him. The boy lay there like a corpse, so that most of the bystanders said, “He is dead.”

But Jesus grasped his hands and lifted him up, and then he stood on his own feet. When he had gone home, Jesus’ disciples asked him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?”

“Nothing can drive out this kind of thing except prayer,” replied Jesus.

Then they left that district and went straight through Galilee. Jesus kept this journey secret for he was teaching his disciples that the Son of Man would be betrayed into the power of men, that they would kill him and that three days after his death he would rise again. But they were completely mystified by this saying, and were afraid to question him about it.

So they came to Capernaum. And when they were indoors he asked them, “What were you discussing as we came along?”

They were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about who should be the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the twelve, and said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”

Then he took a little child and stood him in front of them all, and putting his arms round him, said to them, “Anyone who welcomes one little child like this for my sake is welcoming me. And the man who welcomes me is welcoming not only me but the one who sent me!”

Then John said to him, “Master, we saw somebody driving out evil spirits in your name, and we stopped him, for he is not one who follows us.”

But Jesus replied, “You must not stop him. No one who exerts such power in my name would readily say anything against me. For the man who is not against us is on our side. In fact, I assure you that the man who gives you a mere drink of water in my name, because you are followers of mine, will most certainly be rewarded.”

“And I tell you too, that the man who disturbs the faith of one of the humblest of those who believe in me would be better off if he were thrown into the sea with a great mill-stone hung round his neck!”

“Indeed, if it is your own hand that spoils your faith, you must cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to keep both your hands and go to the rubbish-heap, If your foot spoils your faith, you must cut it off. It is better to enter life on one foot than to keep both your feet and be thrown on to the rubbish-heap. And if your eye leads you astray, pluck it out. It is better for you to go one-eyed into the kingdom of God than to keep both eyes and be thrown on to the rubbish-heap, where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’. For everyone will be salted by fire.”

“Salt is a very good thing; but if it should lose its saltiness, what can you do to restore its flavour? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with each other.”

¶ He also said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there are some of those who are here who shall not taste of death until they have seen the kingdom of God which comes with power.

And six days afterwards Jesus took Peter and James and John, and separated them apart by themselves unto a high mountain; and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter answering, said unto Jesus, Master, it shall be good for us to remain here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for thee, and another for Moses, and another for Elijah.

For he knew not what he was saying, for he was beside himself.

And a cloud came that overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son; hear ye him.

And suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one any more, except Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen until the Son of man was risen from the dead.

And they kept the word within themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should be.

And they asked him, saying, Why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elijah verily shall come first and restore all things and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things and be esteemed as nothing.

But I say unto you, That Elijah has indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they wished, as it is written of him.

¶ And as he came to the disciples, he saw a great multitude about them and scribes that disputed with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What dispute ye with them?

And one of the multitude answering, said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;

and wherever he takes him, he tears him, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth and pines away; and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not.

Answering, he said unto him, O unfaithful generation, how long shall I be with you? How long must I suffer you? Bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him; and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming.

And Jesus asked his father, How long ago is it since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it has cast him into the fire and into the waters to kill him, but if thou canst do any thing, help us, having mercy on us.

And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe this, all things are possible to him that believes.

And straightway the father of the child crying out with tears, said, Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the multitude concurred, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him and enter no more into him.

Then the spirit, crying out and rending him sore, came out; and he remained as one dead, insomuch that many said that he was dead.

But Jesus, taking him by the hand, straightened him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

¶ And having left there, they walked together through Galilee; and he did not wish that anyone should know of it.

For he went on teaching his disciples and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after he is dead, he shall rise the third day.

But they did not understand this word and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum; and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves on the way?

But they were silent; for on the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

Then, sitting down, he called the twelve and said unto them, If anyone desires to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.

And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out demons in thy name and he does not follow us; and we forbade him because he does not follow us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not, for there is no one who does a miracle in my name that can then speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is for us.

¶ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name because ye are of the Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall be a stumbling block to one of these little ones that believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand causes thee to fall, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that can never be quenched,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is never quenched.

And if thy foot causes thee to fall, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter halt into life than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that can never be quenched,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is never quenched.

And if thine eye causes thee to fall, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is never quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltness, with what will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God having come in power.”

And six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;

and His garments were shining intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses and they were conversing with Jesus.

And Peter answered and *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three booths, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”

And all at once when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to recount to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.

And they seized upon that statement, arguing with one another what rising from the dead meant.

And they began asking Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

And when they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

And immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed. And as they ran up, they were greeting Him.

And He asked them, “What are you arguing with them?”

And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around, foaming at the mouth.

And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father cried out and was saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he stood up.

And when He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

From there they went out and were going through Galilee, and He was not wanting anyone to know about it.

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise again three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

And taking a child, He set him before them. And taking him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name because you are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

“And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

[and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell,

[and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

And he said to them, “Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power.”

And after six days, Jesus took along Peter and James and John, and led them to a high mountain by themselves alone. And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothing became radiant—extremely white, like no cloth refiner on earth can make so white.

And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

(For he did not know what he should answer, because they were terrified.)

And a cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”

And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them that they should tell no one the things that they had seen, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

And they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.

And they asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

And he said to them, “Elijah indeed does come first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that indeed Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

And immediately the whole crowd, when they saw him, were amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him.

And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And one individual from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought to you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute.

And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able to do so.

And he answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

And they brought him to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth.

And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, “From childhood.

And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!”

But Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”

Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!”

And it came out, screaming and convulsing him greatly, and he became as if he were dead, so that most of them said, “He has died!”

But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him up, and he stood up.

And after he had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to expel it?”

And he said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer.”

And from there they went out and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

for he was teaching his disciples and was telling them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

But they did not understand the statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capernaum. And after he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest.

And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.”

And he took a young child and had him stand among them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not prevent him, because there is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward.

“And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire!

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having two feet, to be thrown into hell!

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell,

‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.’

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Jesus went on to say to his disciples, “Some of you who are standing here right now will live to see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there. Suddenly his face began to shine with glory,

and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it!

Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus!

“Teacher, this is wonderful!” Peter exclaimed. “We will make three shelters here, one for each of you. . . . ”

He said this just to be talking, for he didn’t know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened.

But while he was still speaking these words, a cloud covered them, blotting out the sun, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Then suddenly they looked around and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them.

As they descended the mountainside he told them never to mention what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.

So they kept it to themselves, but often talked about it, and wondered what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

Now they began asking him about something the Jewish religious leaders often spoke of, that Elijah must return before the Messiah could come.

Jesus agreed that Elijah must come first and prepare the way—and that he had, in fact, already come! And that he had been terribly mistreated, just as the prophets had predicted. Then Jesus asked them what the prophets could have been talking about when they predicted that the Messiah would suffer and be treated with utter contempt.

At the bottom of the mountain they found a great crowd surrounding the other nine disciples, as some Jewish leaders argued with them.

The crowd watched Jesus in awe as he came toward them, and then ran to greet him.

“What’s all the argument about?” he asked.

One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son for you to heal—he can’t talk because he is possessed by a demon.

And whenever the demon is in control of him it dashes him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth and become rigid. So I begged your disciples to cast out the demon, but they couldn’t do it.”

Jesus said to his disciples, “Oh, what tiny faith you have; how much longer must I be with you until you believe? How much longer must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought the boy, but when he saw Jesus, the demon convulsed the child horribly, and he fell to the ground writhing and foaming at the mouth.

“How long has he been this way?” Jesus asked the father. And he replied, “Since he was very small,

and the demon often makes him fall into the fire or into water to kill him. Oh, have mercy on us and do something if you can.”

“If I can?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if you have faith.”

The father instantly replied, “I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!”

When Jesus saw the crowd was growing, he rebuked the demon. “O demon of deafness and dumbness,” he said, “I command you to come out of this child and enter him no more!”

Then the demon screamed terribly and convulsed the boy again and left him; and the boy lay there limp and motionless, to all appearance dead. A murmur ran through the crowd—“He is dead.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet and he stood up and was all right!

Afterwards, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast that demon out?”

Jesus replied, “Cases like this require prayer.”

Leaving that region they traveled through Galilee where he tried to avoid all publicity in order to spend more time with his disciples, teaching them. He would say to them, “I, the Messiah, am going to be betrayed and killed and three days later I will return to life again.”

But they didn’t understand and were afraid to ask him what he meant.

And so they arrived at Capernaum. When they were settled in the house where they were to stay, he asked them, “What were you discussing out on the road?”

But they were ashamed to answer, for they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest!

He sat down and called them around him and said, “Anyone wanting to be the greatest must be the least—the servant of all!”

Then he placed a little child among them; and taking the child in his arms he said to them,

“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me!”

One of his disciples, John, told him one day, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons; but we told him not to, for he isn’t one of our group.”

“Don’t forbid him!” Jesus said. “For no one doing miracles in my name will quickly turn against me.

Anyone who isn’t against us is for us.

If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s—I say this solemnly—he won’t lose his reward.

But if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to lose faith—it would be better for that man if a huge millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

“If your hand does wrong, cut it off. Better live forever with one hand than be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell with two!

If your foot carries you toward evil, cut it off! Better be lame and live forever than have two feet that carry you to hell.

“And if your eye is sinful, gouge it out. Better enter the Kingdom of God half blind than have two eyes and see the fires of hell,

where the worm never dies, and the fire never goes out—

where all are salted with fire.

“Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can’t season anything. So don’t lose your flavor! Live in peace with each other.”

Then he drove it home by saying, “This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.”

Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.

Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.

Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.

Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.

Meanwhile they were asking, “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”

Jesus replied, “Elijah does come first and get everything ready for the coming of the Son of Man. They treated this Elijah like dirt, much like they will treat the Son of Man, who will, according to Scripture, suffer terribly and be kicked around contemptibly.”

When they came back down the mountain to the other disciples, they saw a huge crowd around them, and the religion scholars cross-examining them. As soon as the people in the crowd saw Jesus, admiring excitement stirred them. They ran and greeted him. He asked, “What’s going on? What’s all the commotion?”

A man out of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” They brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth.

He asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?” “Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

Seeing that the crowd was forming fast, Jesus gave the vile spirit its marching orders: “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you—Out of him, and stay out!” Screaming, and with much thrashing about, it left. The boy was pale as a corpse, so people started saying, “He’s dead.” But Jesus, taking his hand, raised him. The boy stood up.

After arriving back home, his disciples cornered Jesus and asked, “Why couldn’t we throw the demon out?”

He answered, “There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except by prayer.”

Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive.” They didn’t know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.

They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?”

The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.

He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”

He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.” * * *

John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.”

Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath slam me. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.

“On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.

“If your hand or your foot gets in God’s way, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

“Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you’ll be well-preserved, protected from the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.”

And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain, alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them.

His garments became shiny, extremely white as snow, such as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses. And they were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three sanctuaries: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know what to say, because they were very afraid.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus only.

As they came down the mountain, He warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

They kept that statement to themselves, questioning each other what the rising from the dead meant.

And they asked Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come?”

He answered, “Elijah indeed comes first to restore all things. Yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

When He came to His other disciples, He saw a great crowd around them, and the scribes disputing with them.

Immediately when all the people saw Him, they were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.

He asked the scribes, “What are you debating with them?”

One in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

Wherever it takes hold on him, it dashes him to the ground. And he foams at the mouth and gnashes with his teeth and becomes rigid. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not.”

He answered, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

So they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit dashed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

He asked his father, “How long has it been since it came to him?” He said, “From childhood.

Often it has thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more.”

The spirit cried out and convulsed him greatly. But it came out of him, and he was as dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

When He had entered the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

He said to them, “This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting.”

They departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.

For He was teaching His disciples, saying, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. After He is killed, He will rise the third day.”

But they did not understand the teaching and were afraid to ask Him.

He came to Capernaum. And being in the house, He asked them, “What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had disputed among themselves who was the greatest.

He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

He took a child and set him in their midst. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives Me. And whoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John answered Him, “Teacher, we saw one who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in My name can quickly speak evil of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

Truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, will not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched,

where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched,

where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell,

where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

“Salt is good. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here · who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power.”

And after six days Jesus took · with him · Peter and · James and · John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

and · his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no launderer on · earth could bleach them.

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with · Jesus.

And answering, · Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. · Let us make three shelters: one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—

for he did not know what he should reply, because they were so frightened.

Then a cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is · my Son, the beloved, listen to him!”

And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone, but only · Jesus with them.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead.

So they kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising of the dead” could mean.

And they asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say, ‘Elijah must come first’?”

And he said to them, “Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Yet how is it written about the Son of Man? That he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that · Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, just as it is written about him.”

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

And immediately the entire crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running up to him, they greeted him.

And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought · my son to you, who has a mute spirit.

And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked · your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able.”

Answering them he · said, “O unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed him; and falling on the ground, the boy began to roll about, foaming at the mouth.

And Jesus asked · his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “Since childhood;

indeed frequently it has even cast him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

· And Jesus said to him, · “‘If you can’! All things are possible for the one who has faith.”

Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my · unbelief!”

When Jesus saw · · that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, · saying to it, · “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”

· After crying out and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out; and the boy was like a corpse, so that · many were saying, “He is dead.”

· But Jesus, taking him by the hand, lifted him up, and he stood up.

And when he had entered the house, · his disciples asked him in private, “Why were we not able to cast it out?”

And he said to them, “This · kind cannot come out except by prayer.”

And leaving there, they went on through · Galilee. And Jesus did not want anyone to know about it;

for he was teaching · his disciples and saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. Then three days after he has been killed, he will rise.

But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued among themselves about who was the greatest.

And sitting down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

And taking a child, he put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one of these children in · my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”

John said to him, · “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in · your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”

· But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in · my name and be able soon after to speak evil of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will most certainly not lose · his reward.

“And whoever 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.

And if your hand causes you to sin, · cut it off; it is better for you to enter into · life crippled than having · two hands to go to · hell, to the unquenchable fire. ·

And if · your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into · life lame than having · two feet to be cast into · hell.

And if · your eye causes you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God having one eye than having two eyes to be cast into · hell,

where · ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, · but if the salt has become unsalty, with what will you make it savory? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”

After six days Yeshua took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. Yeshua’s appearance changed in front of them.

His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Yeshua.

Peter said to Yeshua, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(Peter didn’t know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.)

Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Yeshua.

On their way down the mountain, Yeshua ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life.

They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.”

So they asked him, “Don’t the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

Yeshua said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully?

Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.”

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were arguing with them.

All the people were very surprised to see Yeshua and ran to welcome him.

Yeshua asked the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “What are you arguing about with them?”

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk.

Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.”

Yeshua said to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Yeshua, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.

Yeshua asked his father, “How long has he been like this?” The father replied, “He has been this way since he was a child.

The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”

Yeshua said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”

The child’s father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith.”

When Yeshua saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, “You spirit that won’t let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”

The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!”

Yeshua took his hand and helped him to stand up.

When Yeshua went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?”

He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.”

They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Yeshua did not want anyone to know where he was

because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life.”

The disciples didn’t understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum. While Yeshua was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.

He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.”

Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them,

“Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

John said to Yeshua, “Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”

Yeshua said, “Don’t stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me.

Whoever isn’t against us is for us.

I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

“These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.

“So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.

If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out.

Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another.”

He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.”

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?

But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”

They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.

Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood.

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?”

He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.”

But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

[ ]

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.

[ ]

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,

where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

“Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.”

And six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter, James, and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;

and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

Peter responded and *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let’s make three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know how to reply; for they became terrified.

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!”

And suddenly they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.

They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.

And they asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

And He said to them, “Elijah does come first and he restores all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.”

And when they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

And He asked them, “What are you disputing with them?”

And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;

and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.”

And He answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!”

And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up.

When He came into the house, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why is it that we could not cast it out?”

And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.”

And from there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it.

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them: “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

And He took a child and placed him among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

For the one who is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life without a foot, than, having your two feet, to be thrown into hell.

And if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.

For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;

and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

Peter *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”

All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.

They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.

They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”

And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?”

And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it.

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

For he who is not against us is for us.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell,

[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ]

If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”