THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK

THE NEW TESTAMENT
TRANSLATED FROM
THE SYRIAC PESHITO VERSION BY JAMES MURDOCK

Chapter 1

(Mar 1:1) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

(Mar 1:2) As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way.

(Mar 1:3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make smooth his paths.

(Mar 1:4) John baptized in the wilderness, and proclaimed the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

(Mar 1:5) And there went out to him all the region of Judaea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and he baptized them in the river Jordan, while they confessed their sins.

(Mar 1:6) And this John was clad in raiment of camels' hair; and was girded with a cincture of skin about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

(Mar 1:7) And he proclaimed, and said: Behold, after me cometh one more powerful than I, of whom I am not worthy to stoop and untie the fastenings of his shoes.

(Mar 1:8) I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

(Mar 1:9) And it occurred, in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized in Jordan by John.

(Mar 1:10) And immediately on his coming from the water, he saw the heavens cleft, and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him.

(Mar 1:11) And there was a voice from the heavens: Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I delight.

(Mar 1:12) And directly the Spirit carried him into the wilderness:

(Mar 1:13) and he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild beasts; and angels ministered to him.

(Mar 1:14) After John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, and proclaimed the tidings, of the kingdom of God,

(Mar 1:15) and said: The time is completed, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent ye, and believe the tidings.

(Mar 1:16) And as he walked near the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

(Mar 1:17) And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

(Mar 1:18) And immediately they left their nets, and went after him.

(Mar 1:19) And as he passed on a little, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in a ship, and mending their nets.

(Mar 1:20) And he called them: and immediately they left Zebedee their father in the ship, with the hired servants, and went after him.

(Mar 1:21) And when they entered Capernaum, he immediately taught on the sabbath in their synagogues.

(Mar 1:22) And they were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them, as having authority, and not as their Scribes.

(Mar 1:23) And in their synagogue was a man, in whom was an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

(Mar 1:24) and said: What have we to do with thee? Jesus thou Nazarean. Hast thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the Holy One of God.

(Mar 1:25) And Jesus rebuked him, and said: Shut thy mouth, and come out of him.

(Mar 1:26) And the unclean spirit threw him down, and cried with a loud voice, and came out of him.

(Mar 1:27) And they were all amazed, and inquired one of another, and said: What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

(Mar 1:28) And immediately his fame spread into all the land of Galilee.

(Mar 1:29) And he retired from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

(Mar 1:30) And Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever: and they told him about her.

(Mar 1:31) And he came, and took her hand, and raised her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.

(Mar 1:32) And in the evening at the setting of the sun, they brought to him all them that were diseased, and demoniacs.

(Mar 1:33) And all the city was collected at the door.

(Mar 1:34) And he healed many who labored under divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.

(Mar 1:35) And in the morning, he rose much before others, and retired to a solitary place, and there prayed.

(Mar 1:36) And Simon and his associates sought for him.

(Mar 1:37) And when they found him, they said to him: Every body is seeking for thee.

(Mar 1:38) And he said to them: Go into the adjacent villages and towns; for there also I will preach, because therefore have I come.

(Mar 1:39) And he preached in all their synagogues, in all Galilee, and cast out demons.

(Mar 1:40) And a leper came to him, and fell at his feet, and entreated him, and said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

(Mar 1:41) And Jesus had compassion on him, and stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said: I will; be thou clean.

(Mar 1:42) And in that hour, his leprosy departed from him, and he became clean.

(Mar 1:43) And he charged him, and sent him away,

(Mar 1:44) and he said to him: See that thou tell no person; but go, show thyself to the priests, and offer an oblation on account of thy purification, as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

(Mar 1:45) And he, as he went out, began to proclaim [it] much, and to divulge the matter; so that Jesus could not openly go into the city, but was without, in desert places; and they came to him from every quarter.