Luke 5

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

As the crowd eagerly gathered around him, yearning to hear God's message, he stood by the serene Lake Gennesaret.

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

He noticed two boats resting by the lake, but the fishermen had left them, busy cleaning their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

He stepped onto Simon's boat, gently asking him to push off from the shore. Once settled, he began to teach the gathered crowd from the boat, his voice echoing over the water.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

After he finished speaking, he told Simon, "Venture into the deep waters and cast your nets for a big catch."

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Simon responded, "Teacher, we've worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I'll cast the net again."

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

After they did as told, they were blessed with an enormous catch of fish, so much so that their net couldn't hold it and broke.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

They signaled their friends in the other boat, pleading for help. Their friends rushed over, filling both boats to the brim, so much so that they started to sink under the weight.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Seeing the miracle, Simon Peter was overwhelmed. He dropped to his knees before Jesus, pleading, "Please, leave me. I'm not worthy, Lord, for I've sinned."

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

He was utterly amazed, as were all his companions, by the sheer number of fish they had miraculously caught.

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's partners, were just as amazed. Jesus, sensing Simon's fear, comforted him saying, "Don't be afraid, Simon. From now on, you'll be gathering people, not just fish."

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Once their boats touched the shore, they left everything behind, their hearts filled with devotion, and followed him faithfully.

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

In a particular city, a man riddled with leprosy saw Jesus. Overwhelmed, he fell to his knees, pleading with a hopeful heart, "Lord, if you're willing, you have the power to heal me."

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

With a compassionate reach, he gently touched the man, promising, "I am willing; be healed." Instantly, the man's leprosy vanished.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

He firmly instructed him to tell no one. Instead, he should go and present himself to the priest, and make the offering for his purification as Moses had directed, as proof to them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

His reputation spread even further, attracting vast crowds who came to listen and seek healing for their ailments.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

He retreated into the solitude of the wilderness, pouring out his heart in prayer.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

One day, while he was teaching, religious scholars and law experts who had come from every town in Galilee and Judaea, and from Jerusalem, were sitting nearby. And the Lord's power was there for him to heal the sick.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

See, men carried in a paralyzed man on a bed, desperately trying to place him before Jesus.

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

Unable to get through the crowd, they climbed onto the roof, and gently lowered the man on his mat down to Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Seeing their unwavering belief, he assured the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

The scholars and religious leaders started questioning, filled with doubt and disbelief, "Who is this man daring to utter such sacrilege? Isn't it only God who has the power to forgive sins?"

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

Sensing their inner thoughts, Jesus asked them, "Why are you questioning within yourselves?"

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Which is simpler: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

So you can truly understand, the Son of Man has the authority here on earth to forgive sins. He then turned to the paralyzed man and said, "I command you, get up, pick up your mat and go home."

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Instantly, he stood up in front of everyone, picked up his mat, and joyfully returned home, praising God with all his heart.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Everyone was awestruck, praising God with a sense of awe and wonder, whispering, "We've witnessed the extraordinary today."

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

After completing his tasks, he came across a tax collector named Levi, who was busy with his work. He looked at him and gently said, "Come, follow me."

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Abandoning everything, he stood up, overwhelmed with devotion, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Levi threw a grand feast for Jesus at his home, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

The religious leaders and scholars grumbled at his followers, questioning, "Why do you dine and mingle with tax collectors and wrongdoers?"

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Jesus responded, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, only the sick do."

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I haven't come to call the righteous, but sinners, to turn from their sins and come back to God.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

They questioned him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' followers often fast and pray, yet your followers are always eating and drinking?"

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

He asked them, "Would you force the wedding guests to go hungry while the groom is still present?"

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

A time will arrive when their beloved will be gone, and in those days, they will mourn and fast.

And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

He also shared a story with them: You wouldn't sew a patch of new fabric onto an old garment. If you do, not only will the new fabric tear, but it also won't blend well with the old.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

No one pours fresh wine into old containers; otherwise, the new wine will break the containers, causing a spill and ruining the containers.

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

Fresh wine has to go into fresh wineskins; that way both are kept safe.

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Once a man has tasted the richness of aged wine, he won't quickly crave a fresh one, believing the matured one is superior.