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.