Mark 9

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

He assured them, "Believe me, some here will not die before they witness God's powerful kingdom come to life."

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John on a secluded mountain hike. There, they witnessed his divine transformation.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

His clothes transformed, glowing with a brightness that outshone the purest snow; a brilliance no earthly being could ever replicate.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Suddenly, they saw Elijah and Moses, engaged in deep conversation with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Peter turned to Jesus, his voice filled with awe and reverence, "Teacher, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three shelters; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias."

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

He didn't know what to say, overwhelmed by their intense fear.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

A shadowy cloud enveloped them, and from its depths, a voice echoed, filled with love and authority, "This is my cherished Son, listen to him."

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

Suddenly, as they glanced around, they realized they were alone, with no one else but Jesus by their side.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

As they descended the mountain, he urged them to keep their experiences secret until he, the Son of Man, had risen from death.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

They held onto those words, quietly pondering among themselves, trying to understand what resurrection truly meant.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

They questioned him, filled with curiosity and confusion, "Why do the scholars insist that Elias must arrive first?"

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

He responded, "Indeed, Elias comes first to mend everything. But remember, it's foretold that the Son of Man will endure great hardships and be disregarded."

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Truly, I tell you, Elias has indeed arrived. They treated him as they pleased, just as it was foretold.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

When he returned to his disciples, he found them surrounded by a large crowd, being interrogated by the scholars.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

As soon as the crowd saw him, they were awestruck. They rushed towards him, greeting him with joy and reverence.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

He turned to the scholars, his voice filled with curiosity, "What are you debating with them?"

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

A man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I've brought you my son, who is trapped by a silent spirit."

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Whenever it takes hold of him, it violently shakes him, causing him to foam at the mouth and grind his teeth in agony, leaving him drained. I told your followers to free him from this torment, but they were unable to do so.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

He responded with a sigh, "Oh, unbelieving generation, how long must I stay with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Just bring him to me."

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

They brought the boy to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a violent convulsion. He collapsed, writhing and frothing on the ground in distress.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

He turned to his father, his voice filled with concern, "When did this first afflict him?" His father replied, his voice heavy with years of worry, "Since he was just a little boy."

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Often, it has thrown him into danger, both fire and water, trying to end his life. If you can, please, show us kindness and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Jesus gently told him, "If you can truly trust, anything and everything becomes possible for those who believe."

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Immediately, the child's father burst into tears, pleading, "Lord, I have faith, but please help me overcome my doubts."

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Seeing the crowd rushing towards him, Jesus addressed the evil spirit with a stern voice, "You, the spirit causing silence and deafness, I command you, leave this person and never return."

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

The spirit screamed, tearing through him painfully before leaving his body. He lay there, lifeless, to the point where many believed he had died.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Jesus, with compassion, gently grasped his hand and raised him up; and he stood once again.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Once they were alone in the house, his followers quietly questioned him, their voices tinged with confusion and frustration, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

He told them, "Only through sincere prayer and self-denial can this type be overcome."

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

They quietly left that place, journeying through Galilee. He insisted on keeping their travels a secret from everyone.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

He passionately instructed his followers, "The Son of Man will be handed over to men who will end his life. But, after his death, he will resurrect on the third day."

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

They couldn't grasp his words and were too scared to seek clarification.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

Arriving in Capernaum, he entered the house. With a curious gaze, he asked, "What were you all arguing about on your journey here?"

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

But they fell silent, their hearts heavy with the argument they had just had about who among them was the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

He gathered his twelve disciples and said, "If anyone wants to be the greatest, they must be willing to serve everyone else and be humble enough to be the last."

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

He gently picked up a child, placing him among them. Holding the child close, he lovingly spoke to them.

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Whoever welcomes a child in my name, welcomes me. And in welcoming me, they are not just welcoming me, but the one who sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

John replied, "Lord, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, but he isn't one of us. We tried to stop him because he's not part of our group."

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Jesus insisted, "Don't stop him. Anyone performing miracles in my name can't easily slander me."

For he that is not against us is on our part.

Anyone not opposing us is indeed supporting us.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Anyone who offers you a drink of water in the spirit of love, recognizing you as a follower of Christ, will surely be rewarded.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better if they had a heavy millstone tied around their neck and were thrown into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter life missing a hand than to keep both hands and go into hell, into the fire that never goes out.

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Where their worm never dies, and the fire never goes out.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

If your foot leads you to sin, it's better to part with it. It's preferable to live with a limp than to have both feet and be thrown into an unending fire.

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Where their worm never dies, and the fire never goes out.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It's better to enter God's kingdom with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Where their worm never dies, and the fire never goes out.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Everyone will experience trials and challenges, just as every offering must be seasoned with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Salt is valuable, but if it loses its flavor, how can you make it salty again? Be like salt, full of flavor and goodness, and live in harmony with each other.