Matthew

The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 14, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 14 New English Translation

The Death of John the Baptist

   1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 because John had repeatedly told him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 6 But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Instructed by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 Although it grieved the king, because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then John's disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

   13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, "This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 But he replied, "They don't need to go. You give them something to eat." 17 They said to him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." 18 "Bring them here to me, " he replied. 19 Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full. 21 Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.

Walking on Water

   22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. 23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 25 As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" and cried out with fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them: "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." 28 Peter said to him, "LORD, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water." 29 So he said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, "LORD, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
   34 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him. 36 They begged him if they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

King James Version

   1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
   2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
   3 ¶ For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
   4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
   5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
   6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
   7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
   8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
   9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
   10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
   11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
   12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
   13 ¶ When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
   14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
   15 ¶ And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
   16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
   17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
   18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
   19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
   20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
   21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
   22 ¶ And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
   23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
   24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
   25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
   26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
   27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
   28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
   29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
   30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
   31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
   32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
   33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
   34 ¶ And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
   35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
   36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.