Mark 8

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

During that time, a huge crowd had gathered, hungry and without food. Jesus, deeply moved, called his disciples and said to them,

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

I feel deeply for the crowd, as they've been with me for three days now, without anything to eat.

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

If I send them home without food, they'll collapse on the journey. Many have traveled a great distance.

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

His followers questioned him, "How can anyone find enough bread to feed these people in this desolate place?"

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

He questioned them, "What's our bread count?" They replied, "We have seven loaves."

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

He lovingly instructed everyone to sit on the earth. With the seven loaves in his hands, he expressed heartfelt gratitude, broke the bread, and handed it to his disciples. They, in turn, served it to the crowd.

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

They only had a handful of tiny fish. Yet, he gave thanks for them and lovingly instructed that they too be served.

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

They ate heartily, feeling satisfied and content. They gathered the leftover fragments, filling seven baskets with the remnants of their meal.

And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

Around four thousand people had been fed, and then, with a sense of fulfillment, they were gently dismissed.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

Immediately, he and his disciples climbed aboard a boat, swiftly journeying to the region of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

The Pharisees approached, challenging him with questions, eagerly demanding a heavenly sign, trying to trap him.

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

With a heavy heart, he asked, "Why does this generation demand miracles?" I assure you, no miracles will be shown to them.

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

Leaving them behind, he boarded the ship once more, setting sail towards the other side with a heavy heart.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

The disciples, in their haste, had left behind their bread. On the ship, they found themselves with just a single loaf.

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

He warned them earnestly, "Be careful, watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

They shared their thoughts, feeling worried and confused, "We must have no bread left."

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

When Jesus realized their confusion, he asked them, "Why are you worried about not having bread? Can't you see or understand? Is your heart still closed?"

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

Can't you see even though you have eyes? Can't you hear even though you have ears? Have you forgotten already?

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

When I shared the five loaves with five thousand people, do you remember how many baskets of leftovers we gathered? They replied, Twelve.

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

When the seven fed the four thousand, how many baskets of leftovers did you gather? They replied, Seven.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

He asked them, puzzled, "Why can't you understand?"

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

He arrived in Bethsaida, where they led a blind man to him, pleading for him to heal with his touch.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

Gently, he held the hand of the blind man, guiding him away from the bustling town. With a strange yet compassionate act, he spat on the man's eyes and laid his hands on him. Then, he asked softly, "Can you see anything now?"

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

He lifted his gaze, expressing, "I perceive people as moving forests."

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Then, he gently placed his hands over his eyes once more, urging him to open them. Miraculously, his sight returned, allowing him to see everyone around him with perfect clarity.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

He gently guided him home, whispering, "Don't venture into town or share this with anyone there."

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

Jesus and his disciples journeyed through the towns of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way, Jesus, with a curious heart, asked his disciples, "Who do people believe I am?"

And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

Some responded, "It's John the Baptist," while others believed, "No, it's Elias," and a few even suggested, "Perhaps, one of the prophets."

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

Then he asked them, "Who do you believe I am?" Peter responded with conviction, "You are the Messiah."

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

He firmly instructed them to keep his identity a secret from everyone.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

He started explaining to them, with a heavy heart, that the Son of man would endure great pain, face rejection from the religious leaders, and even be killed. Yet, in three days, he would miraculously rise again.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

He expressed his thoughts candidly. Peter, overwhelmed, started to correct him.

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Turning to his followers, he rebuked Peter with a stern voice, "Get behind me, Satan! You're thinking like a man, not like God."

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Gathering everyone, including his disciples, he passionately declared, "If you choose to follow me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and walk in my footsteps."

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Whoever clings too tightly to their life will lose it, but if you give up your life for my cause and for spreading the good news, you will truly find life.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

What good is it to own everything, if you lose yourself in the process?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What could possibly equal the value of one's own spirit?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

If you're ashamed of me and my teachings in this adulterous and sinful generation, then I, too, will be ashamed of you when I return in my Father's radiant glory, accompanied by holy angels.