God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A Song of Ascents.

121 I (A)will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
(B)My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

(C)He will not allow your foot to [a]be moved;
(D)He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your [b]keeper;
The Lord is (E)your shade (F)at your right hand.
(G)The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall [c]preserve you from all evil;
He shall (H)preserve your soul.
The Lord shall (I)preserve[d] your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 121:3 slip
  2. Psalm 121:5 protector
  3. Psalm 121:7 keep
  4. Psalm 121:8 keep

The Transfiguration of Christ(A)

And He said to them, (B)“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see (C)the kingdom of God [a]present with power.”

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

(D)Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly (E)white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

And a (F)cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is (G)My beloved Son. (H)Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

(I)Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning (J)what the rising from the dead meant.

11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say (K)that Elijah must come first?”

12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And (L)how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and (M)be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that (N)Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

A Boy Is Healed(O)

14 (P)And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

17 Then (Q)one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered him and said, “O (R)faithless[b] generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I [c]bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And (S)when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, (T)“If[d] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; (U)help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He (V)rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 (W)And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but (X)prayer [e]and fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 (Y)For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will (Z)kill Him. And after He is killed, He will (AA)rise the third day.” 32 But they (AB)did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Who Is the Greatest?(AC)

33 (AD)Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you [f]disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had (AE)disputed among themselves who would be the (AF)greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, (AG)“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then (AH)He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and (AI)whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism(AJ)

38 (AK)Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, (AL)for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For (AM)he who is not against [g]us is on [h]our side. 41 (AN)For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Jesus Warns of Offenses(AO)

42 (AP)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me [i]to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 (AQ)If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life [j]maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to [k]hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 [l]where

(AR)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into [m]hell, [n]into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where

(AS)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [o]hell fire— 48 where

(AT)‘Their worm does not die
And the (AU)fire is not quenched.’

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

49 “For everyone will be (AV)seasoned with fire, (AW)and[p] every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 (AX)Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? (AY)Have salt in yourselves, and (AZ)have peace with one another.”

Marriage and Divorce(BA)

10 Then (BB)He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

(BC)The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.

And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

They said, (BD)“Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this [q]precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God (BE)‘made them male and female.’ (BF)‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, (BG)“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children(BH)

13 (BI)Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for (BJ)of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, (BK)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will (BL)by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler(BM)

17 (BN)Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I (BO)do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, (BP)God. 19 You know the commandments: (BQ)‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have (BR)kept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, (BS)sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have (BT)treasure in heaven; and come, (BU)take up the cross, and follow Me.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible(BV)

23 (BW)Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is [r]for those (BX)who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a (BY)rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not (BZ)with God; for with God all things are possible.”

28 (CA)Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother [s]or wife or children or [t]lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 (CB)who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with (CC)persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 (CD)But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection(CE)

32 (CF)Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. (CG)Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and [u]scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Greatness Is Serving(CH)

35 (CI)Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the (CJ)cup that I drink, and be baptized with the (CK)baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, (CL)“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those (CM)for whom it is prepared.”

41 (CN)And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, (CO)“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 (CP)Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even (CQ)the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and (CR)to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus(CS)

46 (CT)Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, (CU)Son of David, (CV)have mercy on me!”

48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, [v]“Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; (CW)your faith has [w]made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:1 having come
  2. Mark 9:19 unbelieving
  3. Mark 9:19 put up with
  4. Mark 9:23 NU “ ‘If You can!’ All things
  5. Mark 9:29 NU omits and fasting
  6. Mark 9:33 discussed
  7. Mark 9:40 M you
  8. Mark 9:40 M your
  9. Mark 9:42 To fall into sin
  10. Mark 9:43 crippled
  11. Mark 9:43 Gr. Gehenna
  12. Mark 9:44 NU omits v. 44.
  13. Mark 9:45 Gr. Gehenna
  14. Mark 9:45 NU omits the rest of v. 45 and all of v. 46.
  15. Mark 9:47 Gr. Gehenna
  16. Mark 9:49 NU omits the rest of v. 49.
  17. Mark 10:5 command
  18. Mark 10:24 NU omits for those who trust in riches
  19. Mark 10:29 NU omits or wife
  20. Mark 10:29 Lit. fields
  21. Mark 10:34 flog Him with a Roman scourge
  22. Mark 10:51 Lit. My Great One
  23. Mark 10:52 Lit. saved you

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