Mark 12

1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

1 He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

2 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

3 But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

4 Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.

4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

5 He sent still another, and this one they killed. He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.

5 Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.

6 Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

7 But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8 So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

10 Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.

11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

11 This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him and went away.

13 Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.

13 They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.

14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

14 When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

15 But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

16 So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

16 They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

17 Jesus answered them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:

18 Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’

20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.

20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

21 Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.

21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

22 In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.

22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

23 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?

25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.

25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

26 But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

26 But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

28 Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

28 One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

31 The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 “Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,

32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;

33 and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

33 and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

35 Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

36 Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.

38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,

38 In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,

39 and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

39 and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts,

40 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

40 those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

41 As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.

42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.

42 A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.

43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.

43 He called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,

44 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”