Read the Modern Pastor’s Version
Select a book and chapter to read the MPV in modern, pastor-shaped English. This view shows the reading edition of the text in paragraphs.
Currently viewing: Mark 9 · MPV reading edition
Here is the rewritten chapter:
Most certainly I say to you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God's Kingdom come with power.
After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up to a high mountain by themselves, where he was transfigured before them. His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them, conversing with Jesus.
Peter replied to Jesus, "It is good for us to be here; let's set up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." They were so afraid he didn't know what to say. A cloud overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." <span class="jesus-words">When they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus</span>.
As they came down from the mountain, he instructed them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man was risen from the dead. They kept that saying with themselves, questioning one another what it meant to rise from the dead.
They asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus replied, "Elijah indeed comes first and will restore all things, yet it is written of the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be rejected." Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.
When he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude surrounding them and scribes questioning them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed and ran to greet him. He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"
One of the crowd answered, "Teacher, I have brought you my son who has a mute spirit. And wherever he takes him, he tears him apart; he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth, and is wasting away: I had told your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they were unable to do so." Jesus answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long must I be with you? How long will I endure your presence?" Bring him to me.
They brought him to Jesus, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, causing him to fall to the ground and foam at the mouth. He asked his father, "How long has it been since this started happening to him?" His father replied, "Since he was a child. And often it has thrown him into the fire and into the waters, trying to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, "If you can trust, all things are possible for one who trusts." The father of the child cried out, his voice shaking with tears, "Lord, I believe; help me with my unbelief." When Jesus saw that the people were rushing together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You evil and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
And the spirit cried out and tore him violently, then came out of him, leaving him lifeless. Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up; he arose. When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why were we unable to cast out this demon?" Jesus replied, "This kind can come out by nothing, but through prayer and fasting."
And they departed from there and passed through Galilee, with him intentionally keeping it secret that he was going. For he taught his disciples, saying, "The Son of Man is delivered into human hands, where they will put him to death; and after being killed, he will rise on the third day." They did not understand his saying and were afraid to ask him.
He came to Capernaum and, while in the house, asked them, "What was it that you were discussing among yourselves on the way?" They held their peace: for on the way they had been arguing among themselves about who should be considered the greatest. He sat down with the twelve and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, that person will be last of all and servant of all."
He took a child, set him in their midst, and taking him in his arms, said to them: "Whoever receives one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the One who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, but he doesn't follow us, so we forbade him."
Jesus replied, "Forbid him not, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name and then speak evil of me. He who is not against us is on our side." Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will not lose their reward.
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a massive millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off: it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into hell, where the worm does not die and the fire is never quenched.
<span class="jesus-words"><span class="jesus-words"><span class="jesus-words">Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched</span></span></span>. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life with one foot than to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to be cast into hell fire with two eyes. Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good: but if it loses its flavor, how will you season your food? Have salt in yourselves and live at peace with each other.