God's Truth
Table of ContentsThe Gospel of St Mark
(Part Two)
The 7th Chapter
And the Pharisees came together unto him, and divers of the Scribes which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw certain of his disciples eat bread with common hands (that is to say, with unwashen hands) they complained. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not, observing the traditions of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses (earthen vessel), and of brazen vessels, and of tables.
Then asked him the Pharisees and Scribes, why walk not your disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them: well prophesied Esaias of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men. For you lay the commandment of God apart, and observe the traditions of men, as the washing of cruses (earthen vessel) and of cups, and many other such like things you do.
And he said unto them: well, you cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said: Honour your father and your mother: and whosoever curses father or mother, let him die for it. But you say: a man shall say to father or mother Corban: which is: that you desire of me to help you with is given God. And so you suffer (allow) him no more to do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect, through your own traditions which you have ordained. And many such things you do.
And he called all the people unto him, and said unto them: Hearken unto me, every one of you and understand. There is nothing with out a man that can defile him when it enters into him: but those things which proceed out of him, are those which defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he came to house away from the people, his disciples asked him of the similitude. And he said unto them: Are you so without, understanding? Do you not yet perceive, that whatsoever thing from without, enters into a man, it cannot defile him, because it enters not in to his heart, but into the belly: and goes out into the *draught that purges out all meats. *draught: natural movement
And he said: that defiles a man which comes out of a man. For from with in, even out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts: *advoutry, fornication, murder, theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, and a wicked eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from with in, and defile a man. *advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
And from that place he rose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon: and entered into an house, and would that no man should have known. But he could not be hid. For a certain woman whose daughter had a foul spirit heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek out of Syrophenicia, and she besought him that he would cast out the devil out of her daughter. And Jesus said unto her: let the children first be fed. For it is not meet, to take the childrens bread, and to cast it unto whelps. She answered and said unto him: even so Master, nevertheless, the whelps also eat under the table of the childrens crumbs. And he said unto her: for this saying go your way, the devil is gone out of your daughter. And when she was come home to her house, she found the devil departed, and her daughter lying on the bed.
And he departed again from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and came unto the sea of Galile through the midst of the coasts of the ten cities. And they brought unto him one that was deaf and stammered in his speech, and prayed him to lay his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the people, and put his fingers in his ears, and did spit and touched his tongue, and looked up to heaven and sighted, and said unto him: Ephasa, that is to say, be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain. And he commanded them that they should tell no man. But the more he forbade them, so much the more a great deal they published it: and were beyond measure astonished, saying: He has done all things well, and has made both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.
The 8th Chapter
In those days when there was a very great company, and had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said unto them: I have compassion on this people, because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat: And if I should send them away fasting to their own houses, they should faint by the way. For divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him: where should a man have bread here in the wilderness to satisfy these? And he asked them: how many loaves have ye? They said, seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, gave thanks, brake and gave to his disciples, to set before them. And they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes. And he blessed them and commanded them also to be set before them. And they ate and were sufficed: And they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that ate, were in number about four thousand. And he sent them away.
And at once he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to dispute with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven and tempting him. And he sighed in his spirit and said: why does this generation seek a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation. And he left them and went into the ship again, and departed over the water.
And they had forgotten to take bread with them, neither had they in the ship with them more then one loaf. And he charged them saying. Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herode. And they reasoned among themselves saying: we have no bread. And when Jesus knew that, he said unto them: why take you thought because you have no bread? perceive you not yet, neither understand? Have you your hearts yet blinded? Have you eyes and see not? and have you ears and hear not? Do you not remember? When I brake five loaves among five thousand. How many baskets full of broken meat took you up? They said unto him, twelve. When I brake seven among four thousand. How many baskets of the leavings of broken meat took you up? They said, seven. And he said unto them: how is it that you understand not?
And he came to Bethsaida, and they brought a blind man unto him, and desired him to touch him. And he caught the blind by the hand, and led him out of the town, and spat in his eyes and put his hands upon him, and asked him whether he saw anything. And he looked up and said: I see the men: For I see them walk, as they were trees. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him see. And he was restored to his sight, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him home to his house saying: neither go into the town, nor tell it any in the town.
And Jesus went out and his disciples into the towns that long to the city called Cesarea Philippi. And by the way he asked his disciples saying: whom do men say that I am? And they answered: some say that you are John Baptist: some say Helias (Elias): and some one of the Prophets. And he said unto them: But whom say you that I am? Peter answered and said unto him you are very Christ. And he charged them, that they should tell no man of it. And he began to teach them, how that the son of man must suffer many things, and should be reproved of the elders and of the high Priests and Scribes, and be killed, and after three days arise again. And he spoke that saying openly. And Peter took him aside, and began to chide him. Then he turned about, and looked on his disciples, and rebuked Peter saying. Go after me Satan. For you savour not the things of God but the things of men.
And he called the people unto him, with his disciples also, and said unto them. Whosoever will follow me, let him forsake himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it. But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, the same shall save it. What shall it profit a man, if he should win all the world and lose his own soul? or else what shall a man give to redeem his soul again? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, among this *advoutrous and sinful generation: of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels. And he said unto them: Verily I say unto you: 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. *advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
The 9th Chapter
And after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up into an high mountain out of the way alone, and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment did shine, and was made very white, even as snow: so white as no *fuller can make upon the earth. And there appeared unto them Helias (Elias) with Moses: and they talked with *Jesu. And Peter answered and said to *Jesu: Master, here is good being for us, let us make three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Helias (Elias). And yet he wist (knew) not what he said: for they were afraid. And there was a cloud that shadowed them. And a voice came out of the cloud saying: This is my dear son, hear him. And suddenly, they looked round about them, and saw no man more than *Jesus only with them. *fuller: one who works with cloth *Jesu exact spelling. *Jesus exact spelling.
And as they came down from the hill, he charged them, that they should tell no man what they had seen, till the son of man were risen from death again. And they kept that saying with them, and demanded one of another, what that rising from death again should mean? And they asked him saying: why then Say the Scribes, that Helias (Elias) must first come? He answered and said unto them: Helias (Elias) verily shall first come and restore all things. And also the son of man as it is written, shall suffer many things and shall be set at nought. Moreover I say unto you, that Helias (Elias) is come, and they have done unto him whatsoever pleased them, as it is written of him.
And he came to his disciples and saw much people about them, and the Scribes disputing with them. And straight way all the people when they beheld him, were amazed, and ran to him, and saluted him. And he said unto the Scribes: what dispute you with them? And one of the company answered and said: Master I have brought my son unto you, which has a dumb spirit. And whensoever he taken him, he teares him, and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away. And I spoke to your disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not.
He answered him and said: O generation without faith, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him. And as soon as the spirit saw him, he tare him. And he fell down on the ground wallowing and foaming. And he asked his father: how long is it ago, since this has happened him? And he said, of a child: and often times casts him into the fire, and also into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do any thing, have mercy on us, and help us. And Jesus said unto him: yea if you could believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straight way the father of the child cried with tears saying: Lord I believe, help mine unbelief.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together unto him, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him: You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore and came out: And he was as one that had been dead, in so much that many said, he is dead. But Jesus caught his hand and lift him up: and he rose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him secretly why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them: this kind can by no other means come forth, but by prayer and fasting.
And they departed from that place, and took their journey through Galile, and he would not that any man should have known it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them: The son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and after that he is killed he shall arise again the third day. But they wist (knew) not what that saying meant, and were afraid to ask him. And he came to Capernaum. And when he was come to house, he asked them: what was it that you disputed between you by the way? And they held their peace: for by the way they reasoned among themselves, who should be the chiefest. And he sat down and called the twelve unto him, and said to them: if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant unto all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them, and took him in his arms and said unto them: Whosoever receive any such a child in my name, receives me. And whosoever receives me, receives not me, but him that sent me.
John answered him saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, which follows not us and we forbade him because he follows us not. But Jesus said, forbid him not. For there is no man that shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. Whosoever is not against you, is on your part. And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my names sake, because you belong to *Christe, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, that believe in me, it were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea. *Christe: exact spelling.
Wherefore if your hand offend you, cut him off. It is better for you, to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, go into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dies not, and the fire never goes out. Likewise if your foot offend you, cut him off. For it is better for you to go halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dies not, and the fire never goes out. Even so if your eye offend you, pluck him out. It is better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dies not, and the fire never goes out.
Every man therefore shall be salted with fire. And every sacrifice shall be seasoned with salt. Salt is good. But if the salt be unsavoury, what shall you salt therewith? See that you have salt in yourselves: and have peace among yourselves, one with another.
The 10th Chapter
And he rose from that place and went into the coasts of Jurie (Jewry) through the region that is beyond Jordan. And the people resorted unto him afresh: and as he was wont (used to), he taught them again. And the Pharises came and asked him a question: whether it were lawful for a man to put away his wife: to prove him. And he answered and said unto them: what did Moses bid you do? And they said: Moses suffered (allowed) to write a testimonial of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them: For the hardness of your hearts he wrote this precept unto you. But at the first creation God made them man and woman. And for this things sake shall man leave his father and mother, and bide by his wife and they twain (two) shall be one flesh. So then are they now not twain (two), but one flesh. Therefore what God has coupled, let not man separate.
And in the house his disciples asked him again of that matter. And he said unto them: Whosoever puts away his wife and marries another, breaks wedlock to herward. And if a woman forsake her husband and be married to another, she commits *advoutry. *advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
And they brought children to him, that he should touch them. And his disciples rebuked those that brought them. When Jesus saw that, he was displeased, and said to them: Suffer (allow) the children to come unto me and forbid them not. For of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, he shall not enter therein, And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
And when he was come into the way, there came one running and kneeled to him, and asked him: good Master, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him: why call you me good? There is no man good but one, which is God. You know the commandments: break not matrimony: kill not: steal not, bear not false witness: defraud no man: honour your father and mother. He answered and said to him: master, all these I have observed from my youth. Jesus beheld him, and had a favour to him, and said unto him: one thing is lacking unto you. Go and sell all that you hast, and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me, and take up your cross. But he was discomforted with that saying, and went away mourning, for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples: what an hard thing is it for them that have riches, to enter into the kingdom of God. And his disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said unto them: children, how hard is it for them, that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of an needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying between themselves: who then can be saved? Jesus looked upon them, and said: with men it is unpossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
And Peter began to say unto him: Lo, we have forsaken all, and have followed you. Jesus answered and said: Verily I say unto you, there is no man that forsakes house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, other children, or lands for my sake and the Gospels, which shall not receive an hundred fold now in this life: houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions: and in the world to come, eternal life. Many that are first, shall be last: and the last, first. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem. And Jesus went before them: and they were amazed, and as they followed, were afraid.
And Jesus took the twelve again, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him. Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the son of man shall be delivered unto the high Priests and unto the Scribes: and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the gentiles: and they shall mock him, and scourge him, and spit upon him, and kill him. And the third day he shall rise again.
And then James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him, saying: Master: we would that you should do for us what soever we desire. He said unto them: what would you I should do unto you? They said to him: grant unto us that we may sit one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. But Jesus said unto them: you wot (know) not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptised in the baptism that I shall be baptised in? And they said unto him: that we can. Jesus said unto them: you shall drink of the cup that I shall drink of and be baptised with the baptism that I shall be baptised in: but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but to them for whom it is prepared.
And when the ten heard that, they began to disdain at James and John. But Jesus called them unto him, and said to them: you know that they which seem to bear rule among the gentiles, reign as lords over them. And they that be great among them, exercise authority over them. So shall it not be among you, but whosoever of you will be great among you, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be chief, shall be servant unto all. For even the son of man came not to be ministered unto: but to minister, and to give his life for the redemption of many.
And they came to Hericho (Jericho). And as he went out of Hericho (Jericho) with his disciples, and a great number of people: Bartimeus the son of Thimeus which was blind, sat by the highways side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry and to say: Jesus the son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried the more a great deal, you son of David have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind, saying unto him: Be of good comfort: rise, he called you. And he threw away his cloak, and rose and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered, and said unto him: what will you that I do unto you? The blind said unto him: Master, that I might see. Jesus said unto him: go your way, your faith has saved you. And by and by he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
The 11th Chapter
And when they came near to Jerusalem unto Bethphage and Bethanie, besides mount Olivete, he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go your ways into the town that is over against you. And as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt bound, whereon never man sat: loose him and bring him. And if any man say unto you: why do you so? Say that the Lord has need of him: and straight way he will send him hither. And they went their way and found a colt tied by the door with out in a place where two ways met, and they loosed him. And divers of them that stood there, said unto them: what do you loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded them. And they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him: and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way. Other cut down branches of the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed, cried saying: Hosanna: blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom that comes in the name of him that is Lord of our father David: Hosanna in the highest.
And the Lord entered into Jerusalem and into the temple. And when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the evening tide was come, he went out unto Bethany, with the twelve. And on the morrow when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered, and spied a fig tree afar off having leaves, and went to see whether he might find anything thereon. But when he came thereto, he found nothing but leaves: for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said to it: never man eat fruit of you here after while the world stands. And his disciples heard it.
And they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out the sellers and buyers in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the stools of them that sold doves: and would not suffer (allow) that any man carried a vessel through the temple. And he taught saying unto them, is it not written: my house shall be called the house of prayer unto all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves.
And the Scribes and high priests heard it and sought how to destroy him. For they feared him, because all the people marvelled at his doctrine. And when evening was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up by the roots. And Peter remembered, and said unto him: master, behold, the fig tree which you cursed, is withered away. And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Have confidence in God. Verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain: take away yourself, and cast yourself in to the sea and shall not waver in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass, whatsoever he says, shall be done to him. Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever you desire when you pray, believe that you shall have it, and it shall be done unto you. And when you stand and pray, forgive, if you have anything against any man: that your father also which is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses.
And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he walked in the temple, there came to him the high Priests, and the Scribes, and the elders, and said unto him: by what authority do you these things? and who gave you this authority, to do these things? Jesus answered and said unto them: I will also ask of you a certain thing and answer you me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men? Answer me. And they thought in themselves saying: if we shall say from heaven: he will say why then did you not believe him? but
if we shall say, of men: then fear we the people. For all men counted John, that he was a very Prophet. And they answered and said unto Jesu: we cannot tell. And Jesus answered, and said unto them: neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
CONTINUE
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God's Truth