40 A leper came to him, and beseeched him, and fell on his knees before him, and said to him, 'If thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.'

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

42 And after these words the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he became clean.

43 And having looked at him sternly, straightway he 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 he went out, and began to proclaim and tell what had happened, so that Jesus could no longer enter into the city openly, but was outside, in the wilderness. And they came to Him from everywhere.

Chapter 2

1 And it came to pass, after a few days, that 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 the paralytic, who was carried by four;

4 And not being able to draw near to him because of the multitude, they opened the roof of the house where he was, and having dug through it, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

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.