40 Thenab a man with leprosy* ac came to him and, on his knees,C,ad begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”ae 41 Moved with compassion,D,af Jesus reached out his hand and touchedag him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the leprosyah left him, and he was made clean. 43 Then he sternly warnedai him and sent him awayaj at once, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;ak but go and showal yourself to the priest,am and offeran what Moses commanded for your cleansing,ao as a testimonyap to them.”E 45 Yet he went out and began to proclaimaq it widely and to spread the news,ar with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

THE SON OF MAN FORGIVES AND HEALS

2 Whenas he entered Capernaumat again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the wordau to them. 3 They came to him bringing a paralytic,av carried by four of them. 4 Since they were not able to bring him toF Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5 Seeing their faith,aw Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sinsax are forgiven.”ay

6 But some of the scribesaz were sitting there, questioningba in their hearts: 7 “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming!bb Who can forgivebc sinsbd but God alone?”be

8 Right awaybf Jesus perceived in his spiritbg that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier:bh to say to the paralytic,bi ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?bj 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Manbk has authoritybl on earth to forgive sins”bm—he told the paralytic—11 “I tell you: get up,bn take your mat, and go home.”

12 Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astoundedbo and gave glorybp to God,bq saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”br