Mark 9 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(A) there are some standing here who will not taste death^(B) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”^(C)

The Transfiguration

² After^(D) six days^(E) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(F) and led them up a high mountain^(G) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured^(H) in front of them, ³ and his clothes^(I) became dazzling—extremely white^(J) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(K) them. ⁴ Elijah^(L) appeared to them with Moses,^(M) and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(N) it’s good^(O) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:^(P) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say,^(Q) since they were terrified.^(R)

⁷ A cloud^(S) appeared, overshadowing^(T) them, and a voice^(U) came from the cloud:^(V) “This is my beloved^(W) Son;^(X) listen to him!” ^(Y)

⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As^(Z) they were coming down the mountain,^(AA) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(AB) until the Son of Man^(AC) had risen^(AD) from the dead.^{(AE) 10} They kept this word^(AF) to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes^(AG) say that Elijah must come first?” ^(AH)

¹² “Elijah does come first and restores^(AI) all things,”^(AJ) he replied. “Why then is it written^(AK) that the Son of Man must suffer^(AL) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(AM) 13} But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written^(AN) about him.”

The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(AO) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(AP) with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,^(AQ) I brought my son to you. He has a spirit^(AR) that makes him unable to speak.^{(AS) 18} Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ He replied to them, “You unbelieving^(AT) generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(AU) him. But if you can do anything, have compassion^(AV) on us and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’?^[a] Everything is possible^(AW) for the one who believes.”^(AX)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked^(AY) the unclean^(AZ) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(BA) spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions.^(BB) The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(BC) and he stood up.

²⁸ After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”^[b](BD)

The Second Prediction of His Death

³⁰ Then^(BE) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.^{(BF) 31} For he was teaching^(BG) his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man^(BH) is going to be betrayed^[c] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise^(BI) three days later.”^{(BJ) 32} But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.^(BK)

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They^(BL) came to Capernaum.^(BM) When he was in the house,^(BN) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(BO) 34} But they were silent,^(BP) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(BQ) 35} Sitting down, he called the Twelve^(BR) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”^{(BS) 36} He took a child,^(BT) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[d] one little child such as this in my name^(BU) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent^(BV) me.”^(BW)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(BX) said to him, “Teacher,^(BY) we saw someone^[e] driving out demons^(BZ) in your name,^(CA) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”^(CB)

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(CC) in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(CD) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(CE) in my name, because you belong to Christ^(CF) —truly I tell you,^(CG) he will never lose his reward.^(CH)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away^(CI) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^(CJ) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

⁴³ “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.^(CK) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(CL) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.^{[f](CM) 45} And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(CN) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{[g] 47} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(CO) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(CP) into hell,^{(CQ) 48} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.^{[h] 49} For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[i][j](CR) 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?^(CS) Have salt^(CT) among yourselves, and be at peace^(CU) with one another.”

Footnotes

1. 9:23 Other mss add believe
2. 9:29 Other mss add and fasting
3. 9:31 Or handed over
4. 9:37 Or “Whoever receives
5. 9:38 Other mss add who didn’t go along with us
6. 9:43 Some mss include v. 44: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
7. 9:45 Some mss include v. 46: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
8. 9:48 Is 66:24
9. 9:49 Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
10. 9:49 Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24

Cross references

1. 9:1 : Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21
2. 9:1 : Mk 13:28–32; 14:25; Jn 21:22–23; 2Pt 3:4
3. 9:1 : Lk 6:19
4. 9:2–8 : Mt 17:1–8; Lk 9:28–36
5. 9:2 : Ex 24:15–18; Hs 6:2
6. 9:2 : Mt 10:2; Mk 5:37; 13:3; 14:33; Ac 1:13
7. 9:2 : Mt 4:8; 2Pt 1:18
8. 9:2 : Rm 12:2; 2Co 3:18
9. 9:3 : Lk 19:36
10. 9:3 : Rv 3:4
11. 9:3 : Rv 7:14
12. 9:4 : Mk 8:28
13. 9:4 : Ps 77:20; Mt 8:4; Heb 3:2
14. 9:5 : Jn 11:8
15. 9:5 : Gn 1:31
16. 9:5 : Ex 25:9
17. 9:6 : Mk 14:40
18. 9:6 : Heb 12:21
19. 9:7 : Ex 24:15; Mt 26:64
20. 9:7 : Lk 1:35
21. 9:7 : Jn 5:37
22. 9:7 : 2Pt 1:16–18
23. 9:7 : Eph 1:6; Phm 1
24. 9:7 : Lk 20:13; Jn 5:19
25. 9:7 : Dt 18:15
26. 9:9–13 : Mt 17:9–13
27. 9:9 : Mt 4:8
28. 9:9 : Lk 8:56
29. 9:9 : Mk 2:10
30. 9:9 : Mt 16:21; Lk 18:33
31. 9:9 : Jn 20:9
32. 9:10 : Mk 4:14
33. 9:11 : Mt 2:4
34. 9:11 : Mal 4:5
35. 9:12 : Mk 8:25
36. 9:12 : Lk 1:17
37. 9:12 : Ac 15:15
38. 9:12 : Mk 8:31
39. 9:12 : Lk 23:11
40. 9:13 : Mk 1:2
41. 9:14–29 : Mt 17:14–20; Lk 9:37–42
42. 9:14 : Mk 8:11
43. 9:17 : Mk 4:38; Eph 4:11
44. 9:17 : Lk 11:24; 1Tm 4:1; 1Jn 4:1
45. 9:17 : Mk 7:37
46. 9:19 : Lk 12:46
47. 9:22 : Jn 6:27
48. 9:22 : Lk 15:20
49. 9:23 : Mt 17:20; Jn 11:40
50. 9:23 : Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10
51. 9:25 : 2Tm 4:2
52. 9:25 : 2Co 6:17
53. 9:25 : Lk 7:22
54. 9:26 : Mk 1:26
55. 9:27 : Mk 1:31
56. 9:29 : Ac 12:5; 16:13; Phm 22
57. 9:30–32 : Mt 17:22–23; Lk 9:43–45
58. 9:30 : Mk 1:44
59. 9:31 : Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:11
60. 9:31 : Mk 2:10
61. 9:31 : Mt 16:21; Lk 18:33; Ac 2:24
62. 9:31 : Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22
63. 9:32 : Mk 4:40; Lk 2:50
64. 9:33–50 : Mt 18:1–10; Lk 9:46–50
65. 9:33 : Lk 10:15
66. 9:33 : Mk 1:29
67. 9:33 : Mk 8:27
68. 9:34 : Mk 3:4
69. 9:34 : Lk 22:24–27; Ac 8:9
70. 9:35 : Mk 11:11
71. 9:35 : Mt 20:16–27; 23:11; Mk 10:43–44; Lk 22:26
72. 9:36 : Lk 1:7
73. 9:37 : Jn 10:25
74. 9:37 : Mt 15:24; Mk 12:6; Jn 3:16–17
75. 9:37 : Mt 10:40
76. 9:38 : Jn 21:7
77. 9:38 : Mk 4:38
78. 9:38 : Mk 3:15; Rv 9:20
79. 9:38 : Jn 10:25; 14:13
80. 9:38 : Nm 11:26–30
81. 9:39 : Ac 19:11
82. 9:40 : Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23
83. 9:41 : Mt 10:42; 25:35–42; Rm 12:20
84. 9:41 : Mt 1:17; Eph 5:2
85. 9:41 : Rv 22:21
86. 9:41 : Mt 10:42; 2Pt 2:13
87. 9:42 : Ex 23:33; Jn 6:35
88. 9:42 : Jdg 9:53; Mt 24:41; Rv 18:22
89. 9:43 : Mt 5:29–30
90. 9:43 : Mt 15:30–31
91. 9:43 : Mt 3:12; 5:22; 25:41; 2Th 1:8
92. 9:45 : Jn 5:3
93. 9:47 : Mk 1:15
94. 9:47 : 3Jn 10
95. 9:47 : Jms 3:6
96. 9:49 : Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24
97. 9:50 : Mt 5:13; Lk 14:34
98. 9:50 : Ex 30:35; 2Kg 2:19–23; Col 4:6
99. 9:50 : Mt 5:9; Rm 12:18; 14:13; 2Co 13:11; 1Th 5:13; Heb 12:14