The Life of Jesus

and the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her,

and having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to them.

And evening having come, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were ill, and who were demoniacs,

and the whole city was gathered together near the door,

and he healed many who were ill of manifold diseases, and many demons he cast forth, and was not suffering the demons to speak, because they knew him.

And very early, it being yet night, having risen, he went forth, and went away to a desert place, and was there praying;

and Simon and those with him went in quest of him,

and having found him, they say to him, --`All do seek thee;'

and he saith to them, `We may go to the next towns, that there also I may preach, for for this I came forth.'

And he was preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and is casting out the demons,

and there doth come to him a leper, calling on him, and kneeling to him, and saying to him--`If thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me.'

And Jesus having been moved with compassion, having stretched forth the hand, touched him, and saith to him, `I will; be thou cleansed;'

and he having spoken, immediately the leprosy went away from him, and he was cleansed.

And having sternly charged him, immediately he put him forth,

and saith to him, `See thou mayest say nothing to any one, but go away, thyself shew to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing the things Moses directed, for a testimony to them.'

And he, having gone forth, began to proclaim much, and to spread abroad the thing, so that no more he was able openly to enter into the city, but he was without in desert places, and they were coming unto him from every quarter.

And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days, and it was heard that he is in the house,

and immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was speaking to them the word.

And they come unto him, bringing a paralytic, borne by four,

and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken it up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying,

and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, `Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

And there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts,

`Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one--God?'

And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, `Why these things reason ye in your hearts?

which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?