12 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the cornfields; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears and to eat.

² But the Pharisees, seeing [it], said to him, Behold, thy disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on sabbath.

³ But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him?

⁴ How he entered into the house of God, and ate the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for the priests only?

⁵ Or have ye not read in the law that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

⁶ But I say unto you, that there is here what is greater than the temple.

⁷ But if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

⁸ For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath.

⁹ And, going away from thence, he came into their synagogue.

¹⁰ And behold, there was a man having his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.

¹¹ But he said to them, What man shall there be of you who has one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and raise [it] up?

¹² How much better then is a man than a sheep! So that it is lawful to do well on the sabbath.

¹³ Then he says to the man, Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched [it] out, and it was restored sound as the other.

¹⁴ But the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

¹⁵ But Jesus knowing [it], withdrew thence, and great crowds followed him; and he healed them all:

¹⁶ and charged them strictly that they should not make him publicly known:

¹⁷ that that might be fulfilled which was spoken through Esaias the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul has found its delight. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew forth judgment to the nations.

¹⁹ He shall not strive or cry out, nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets;

²⁰ a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory;

²¹ and on his name shall [the] nations hope.