Matthew 12

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

At that time, Jesus walked through the fields on the Sabbath day. His followers were very hungry, so they started picking and eating the corn right away.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But when the Pharisees saw his disciples doing something, they told him, "Look, your followers are doing something that's not allowed on the Sabbath."

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

But he told them, "Didn't you read about what David did when he was very hungry, and the ones with him?"

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

He went inside God's house and ate the special bread that only priests were allowed to eat. It wasn't right for him or his companions to eat it.

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Did you not know from the rules that on special rest days, the temple priests break those days and still don't get into trouble?

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

But I tell you, there is someone more important here than this entire temple.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

But if you understood that "I want mercy, not sacrifices," you wouldn't have judged the innocent.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

The Son of Man is the boss of even Sunday, which we call the Sabbath.

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And after he left, he went to their place of worship.

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And look, there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, "Is it allowed to heal on the rest days?" They did this so they could accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

He asked them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a hole on the Sabbath day, wouldn't you rescue it?"

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

How much more valuable is a person than a sheep? Therefore, it is acceptable to do good things on rest days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Then he tells the man, "Raise your hand." So the man raises it, and it becomes whole, just like the other one.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Then the Pharisees met and planned how to get rid of him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

But when Jesus learned about it, he left that place. Many people followed him, and he healed everyone.

And charged them that they should not make him known:

He told them to keep his identity secret.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

To fulfill what Isaiah the prophet spoke, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Look at my servant, whom I have picked; my dear one, who makes me happy: I will give my spirit to him, and he will show fairness to non-Jews.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

He won't argue or shout; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

He won't break a broken reed or put out burning flax until he brings justice and wins the battle.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

In his name, people from other nations will put their trust.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

A person with a demon, who was blind and couldn't talk, was brought to him. He healed the person, so they could see and talk.

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

And everyone was stunned, asking, "Isn't he the son of David?"

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "He isn't expelling demons; rather, it's Beelzebub, the demon ruler, who is doing it."

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Jesus understood what they were thinking. He told them that any kingdom that fights with itself will be destroyed, and any city or home that fights with itself won't last.

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

If Satan drives out Satan, he is against himself; so how can his kingdom last?

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

If I remove demons with Beelzebub's help, then how do your kids do it? So, they will judge you.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

But if I drive away demons using God's power, then God's kingdom is here for you.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

How can someone get into a strong person's home and take things without first tying up the strong person? They must tie him up first, and then they can take whatever they want from his home.

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

If someone isn't on my side, they are against me. And if you don't collect with me, you're pushing people apart.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Because I tell you, any wrongdoing or insult can be forgiven for people, but insulting the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven for anyone.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Whoever says something bad about the Son of man can be forgiven, but whoever says something bad about the Holy Spirit won't be forgiven, neither here nor in the next world.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Either make the tree and its fruit good, or make them both corrupt. A tree is judged by its fruit.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

"You evil people, how can you say good things? Your heart guides what comes out of your mouth."

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

A kind person shares goodness from their heart, while a mean person shares badness.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

But I tell you, any unnecessary words people say will be judged on the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

You will be proven right or wrong based on your words.

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Then some writers and Pharisees replied, saying, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

But Jesus told them, "Wicked people who don't follow God look for miracles. They won't get any miracle, but they will see the miracle of the prophet Jonah being inside a big fish."

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Just like Jonah spent three days inside a big fish, the Son of Man will also spend three days in the Earth's depths.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The people of Nineveh, who repented when Jonah preached to them, will judge this current generation. This is because they believed and changed when they heard Jonah's message, while a greater prophet is present now.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

The queen from far away will come back to judge this time period alongside people in a judgment, criticizing them because she traveled very far just to listen to Solomon's wisdom. Now, there is someone even greater than Solomon here.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

When a bad spirit leaves someone, it walks through empty areas looking for peace but can't find any.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then he says, "I will go back to my home where I came from." When he gets there, he finds it empty, cleaned, and decorated.

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Then he takes seven even more wicked spirits with him, and they all go inside and live there. In the end, this person's situation becomes worse than how it started. This will also happen to this evil generation.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk to him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Then someone told him, Look, your mom and your siblings are outside, wanting to talk to you.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

But he replied, asking the person, "Who is my mom?" and who are my siblings?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

He reached out his hand to his followers and said, "Look, my family members are here!"

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants, they are my brother, sister, and mother.