9:1 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. |
9:2 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. |
9:3 And His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller (cloth dresser, launderer) on earth could bleach them. |
9:4 And Elijah appeared [there] to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were holding [a protracted] conversation with Jesus. |
9:5 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. |
9:6 For he did not [really] know what to say, for they were in a violent fright (aghast with dread). |
9:7 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! |
9:8 And looking around, they suddenly no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus only. |
9:9 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. |
9:10 So they carefully {and} faithfully kept the matter to themselves, questioning {and} disputing with one another about what rising from among the dead meant. |
9:11 And they asked Him, Why do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to come first? |
9:12 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? |
9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and [people] did to him whatever they desired, as it is written of him. |
9:14 And when they came to the [nine] disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and scribes questioning {and} disputing with them. |
9:15 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. |
9:16 And He asked them, About what are you questioning {and} discussing with them? |
9:17 And one of the throng replied to Him, Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit. |
9:18 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]. |
9:19 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. |
9:20 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]. |
9:21 And [Jesus] asked his father, How long has he had this? And he answered, From the time he was a little boy. |
9:22 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. |
9:23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! |
9:24 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! |
9:25 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. |
9:26 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. |
9:27 But Jesus took [a strong grip of] his hand and began lifting him up, and he stood. |
9:28 And when He had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we drive it out? |
9:29 And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer {and fasting.} |
9:30 They went on from there and passed along through Galilee. And He did not wish to have anyone know it, |
9:31 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]. |
9:32 But they did not comprehend what He was saying, and they were afraid to ask Him [what this statement meant]. |
9:33 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? |
9:34 But they kept still, for on the road they had discussed {and} disputed with one another as to who was the greatest. |
9:35 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. |
9:36 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, |
9:37 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. |
9:38 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]. |
9:39 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. |
9:40 For he who is not against us is for us. |
9:41 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. |
9:42 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. |
9:43 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. |
9:44 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. [Isa 66:24.] |
9:45 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). |
9:46 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. [Isa 66:24.] |
9:47 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), |
9:48 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. |
9:49 For everyone shall be salted with fire. |
9:50 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. |