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

6 And there sat some of the scribes, and thought in their hearts,

7 Why does he blaspheme thus? who can forgive sins except God alone?

8 And Jesus, knowing immediately in his spirit that they were thinking thus in themselves, said unto them, Why do ye think thus 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 that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, saith unto the paralytic,

11 And I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go into thy house.

12 And straightway he arose, and took up the bed, and went out before all, so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, 'Never have we 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 Alpheus sitting at the toll-house, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he arose and followed Him.

15 And as Jesus reclined in his house, his disciples also reclined with him, and many publicans and sinners: for they were many, and they followed him.

16 And when the scribes and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, 'How is it that he eateth and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?'

17 And when Jesus heard this, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

18 The disciples of John and the Pharisees fasted. They come to Him and say, "Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"