sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my 24 kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto

her mother, What shall I ask? and she said, 25 The head of John the Baptist. And she came in immediately with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a bason the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet

for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which 27 sat with him, he would not reject her. And

immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought and he 28 went and beheaded him in the prison. And

brought his head in a bason, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came

and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 30 And the apostles gathered themselves to

gether unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had 31 taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 And they departed into a solitary place by ship 33 privately. And the people saw them departing,

and many knew him, and ran a-foot thither out of all cities, and outwent them and came 34 together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd; and he began to 35 teach them many things. And when the day

was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now 36 the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about and into the villages, and buy themselves bread : 37 for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred penny-worth of bread, and give them 38 to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they 39 knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by 40 companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the

two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed God, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two 42 fishes he divided among them all. And they 43 did all eat and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of 44 the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves 45 were about five thousand men. And immediately he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he depart47 ed into a mountain to pray. And when evening was come, the ship was in the midst of the 48 sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw

See chap. viii. 6. He blessed God, or gave thanks to

God.

them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them, and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried. 50 out. (For they all saw him, and were troubled.) And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I; 51 be not afraid. And he went up to them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves, beyond measure, 52 and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was 53 hardened. And when they had passed over,

they came into the land of Gennesaret, and 54 drew to the shore. And when they were

come out of the ship, immediately they knew 55 him. And ran through that whole region

round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment; and as many as touched him were made whole.

CHAP. VII.

THEN came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who came 2 from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his dsciples eat bread with defiled (that is

to say, with unwashen) hands, they found 3 fault. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, hold 4 ing the tradition of the elders. And when they

come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there are, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of 5 tables.) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread 6 with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it was written, this people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart 7 is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the com8 mandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many 9 other such like things ye do. And he said

unto them, Ye do entirely reject the commandment of God, that he may keep your own tra10 dition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and whoso curseth father or 11 mother, let him die the death: But ye teach, if a man say to his father or mother, Whatever of mine which may be profitable to you, is corban, that is, a thing devoted to God!

By pretending to make an offering to God, a child was freed, by the Jewish doctors, from contributing to the support of its parents. Such a maxim merited severe censure. This was making the word of God of no effect, and the very reverse of our Savior's declaration, that our heavenly Father requires mercy rather than sacrifice.

12 That he shall no more be obliged to do aught 13 for his father or his mother. Thus making the word of God of no effect by the tradition ye have established. And many other such things ye do.

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me 15 every one of you, and understand. There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the 16 man. If any man have ears to hear, let him 17 hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked 18 him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it 19 cannot defile him, because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out 20 into the draught, purging all meats? And he

said, That which cometh out of the man, that 21 defileth the man. For from within, out of the

heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, 22 fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, 23 blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

24

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know 25 it but he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his