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Matthew 9:1–5

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

9:2–8pp—Mk 2:3–12; Lk 5:18–26

9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.k Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,l lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,m he said to the man, Take heart,n son; your sins are forgiven.”o

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”p

Knowing their thoughts,q Jesus said, Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

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Matthew 9:1–5 — English Standard Version (ESV)

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Matthew 9:1–5 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”

But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to sayYour sins are forgiven,’ orStand up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — New Century Version (NCV)

Jesus got into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to Jesus a man who was paralyzed and lying on a mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, young man. Your sins are forgiven.”

Some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This man speaks as if he were God. That is blasphemy!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil thoughts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — American Standard Version (ASV)

And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Matthew 9:1–5 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And going on board the ship, he passed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, laid upon a bed; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Be of good courage, child; thy sins are forgiven. And behold, certain of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes. And Jesus, seeing their thoughts, said, Why do ye think evil things in your hearts? For which is easier: to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Matthew 9:1–5 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Jesus got into a boat, crossed the sea, and came to his own city. Some people brought him a paralyzed man on a stretcher. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Cheer up, friend! Your sins are forgiven.” 

Then some of the experts in Moses’ Teachings thought, “He’s dishonoring God.” 

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, “Why are you thinking evil things? Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town. Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the scribes said among themselves, “He’s blaspheming!”

But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town.

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came to his own town. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Jesus stepped into a boat. He went over to the other side of the lake and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a man who could not walk. He was lying on a mat. Jesus saw that they had faith. So he said to the man, “Don’t lose hope, son. Your sins are forgiven.”

Then some teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is saying a very evil thing!”

Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said, “Why do you have evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’? Or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Matthew 9:1–5 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.

And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.”

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?


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