40. A leper comes to Him, and beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, he says to Him, "If you want, you can cleanse me."

41. Jesus, having compassion on him, stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I will, be cleansed."

42. After this word, the leprosy immediately disappeared from him, and he became clean.

43. And looking at him sternly, he immediately sent him away

44. And he said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded for a witness to them."

45. And when he went out, he began to proclaim and relate what had happened, so that Jesus could no longer enter the city openly, but was outside, in the wilderness. And they came to Him from everywhere.

Chapter 2.

1. After a few days he came again to Capernaum; and it was heard that he was in the house.

2. Immediately many were assembled, so that there was no room at the door; and he spoke a word to them.

3. And they came to him with a paralytic, who was carried by four men;

4. and not being able to approach him because of the multitude, they opened the roof of the house where he was, and having dug through it, they lowered the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Child! thy sins are forgiven thee.

6. Some of the scribes sat there and thought in their hearts:

7. why does he blaspheme in this way? who can forgive sins except God alone?

8. Jesus, immediately knowing in his spirit that they were thinking these things in themselves, said to them, "Why do you think these things in your hearts?"

9. Which is easier? shall I say to the paralytic, "Thy sins are forgiven?" Or shall I say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?

10. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, He says to the paralytic:

11. I say to you, "Get up, take up your bed, and go to your house."

12. Immediately he got up and took up his bed and went out before everyone, so that everyone was amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

13. And Jesus went out again to the sea; and all the people went to him, and he taught them.

14. As he passed, he saw Levi of Alpheus sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed Him.