Luke 8 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Christ, with his apostles, goes from town to town and preaches, explains the parable of the seed, says who is his mother and his brother, and stills the raging of the sea. He delivers the possessed man and drives the devils into the herd of swine, and helps the sick woman and Jairus’ daughter.

8 And it happened after that, that he went throughout cities and towns, preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them from their substance.

4 When crowds of people were gathered together, having come to him out of all places, he spoke by a similitude: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden under foot, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. 6 And some fell on stone, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold.

And as he said these things, he called: He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

9 His disciples asked him, saying, What manner of similitude is this? 10 And he said, To you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they remain in similitudes, so that when they see, they will not see, and when they hear, they will not understand.

11 The similitude is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those who are beside the way are the people that hear, but afterward the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 Those on the stones are people who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But these have no roots, and for a while believe, but in time of trial go away. 14 As for that which fell among thorns, this is those who hear and go forth, but are choked with cares, and with riches and voluptuous living, and bring forth no fruit. 15 As for that in the good ground, this is those who with a good and pure heart hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 No man lights a candle and covers it under a vessel, neither puts it under the table, but sets it on a candlestick, so that those who enter in may see the light. 17 Nothing is in secret that may not become clear, nor anything hid that may not be known and come to light. 18 Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever has, to him will be given, and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken even that same which he supposes that he has.

19 Then Jesus’ mother and his brethren came looking for him, but could not come in to him because of the press of people. 20 And they told him, saying, Your mother and your brethren are standing outside and want to see you. 21 He answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God and do it.

22 And it happened on a certain day that he got into a boat, and his disciples also, and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. 24 And the disciples went to him and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are lost! Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it became calm. 25 And he said to them, Where is your faith?

They feared and wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this? For he commands both the winds and water, and they obey him.

26 And they sailed to the region of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee. 27 And as he went out to land, there met him a certain man from the place, who had for a long time had a devil. And he wore no clothes; neither did he live in a house, but among graves. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the God Most High? I beseech you, torment me not! 29 For Jesus commanded the foul spirit to come out of the man. For it often affected him violently, and he was bound with chains and kept with shackles, but he broke the bonds, and was carried by the fiend into wilderness areas.

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion (because many devils were entered into him). 31 And the devils besought Jesus not to command them to go out into the deep. 32 There was nearby a herd of many swine feeding on a hill, and the devils besought him to suffer them to enter into the swine. And he suffered them. 33 Then the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine. And the herd took their course and ran headlong into the lake, and were drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the town and in the villages. 35 And people came out to see what had been done, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those also who had witnessed it told them how the demon-possessed man was healed. 37 And all the whole population from the country of the Gadarenes besought Jesus to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear.

And he got into the boat and turned back again. 38 Then the man from whom the devils were departed asked him if he could be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Go home again into your own house, and show what great things God has done for you.

And the man went his way, and preached throughout all the city about the great things Jesus had done for him.

40 And it came to pass that, when Jesus arrived back again, the people received him gladly, for they were all awaiting him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus (and he was a leader of the synagogue), and he fell down at Jesus’ feet and besought him to come to his house. 42 For he had but a daughter only, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying.

And as he went, the people thronged him. 43 And a woman who had for twelve years had an issue of blood (who had spent all her substance on physicians, but could not be helped by any) 44 came behind him and touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood was stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? When everyone denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the people throng you and crowd you, and you say, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody touched me. For I can tell that power has gone out of me.

47 When the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling and fell at his feet, and told him before all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace.

49 While he was yet speaking, a person from the house of the synagogue leader came and said to him, Your daughter is dead; don’t trouble the Master. 50 When Jesus heard that, he spoke to the father, saying, Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made whole.

51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 Everybody wept and sorrowed for her. And he said, Weep not, for she is not dead, but sleeping. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, because they knew that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, Maiden, arise! 55 And her spirit came back, and she rose up straightaway. And he said to give her food. 56 And her father and mother were astonished. But he charged them to tell no one what had been done.