Mark 9 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

9 Then He said to them, “I assure 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 on a high mountain^(G) by themselves to be alone. He was transformed^[a](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 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(N) it’s good^(O) for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:^(P) one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what he should 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 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

⁹ As^(Z) they were coming down from 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, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribes^(AG) say that Elijah must come first?”^(AH)

¹² “Elijah does come first and restores^(AI) everything,”^(AJ) He replied. “How then is it written^(AK) about the Son of Man that He must suffer^(AL) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(AM) 13} But I tell you that Elijah really 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 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed^[b] and ran to greet Him. ¹⁶ Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,^(AQ) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit^(AR) that makes him unable to speak.^{(AS) 18} Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So 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 him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. 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 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?^[c][d] Everything is possible^(AW) to 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 rapidly coming together, He rebuked^(AY) the unclean^(AZ) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(BA) spirit,^[e] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing^(BB) him^[f] violently. 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 went into a 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^(BD) [and fasting].”^[g](BE)

The Second Prediction of His Death

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

Who is the Greatest?

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

In His Name

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

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(CD) in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(CE) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(CF) because of My name,^[k] since you belong to the Messiah^(CG)—I assure you:^(CH) He will never lose his reward.^(CI)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me^(CJ)—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^[l](CK) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.^(CL) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(CM) than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,^(CN) [⁴⁴ where

Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.]^[m](CO)[n]

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes your downfall,^(CP) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(CQ) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,^{(CR) 46} where

Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.]^[o](CS)[p]

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(CT) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(CU) into hell,^{(CV) 48} where

Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.^[q]

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[r](CW)[s] 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?^(CX) Have salt^(CY) among yourselves and be at peace^(CZ) with one another.”

Footnotes

1. Mark 9:2 Or transfigured
2. Mark 9:15 Or surprised
3. Mark 9:23 Other mss add believe
4. Mark 9:23 Jesus appears to quote the father’s words in v. 22 and then comment on them.
5. Mark 9:25 A spirit that caused the boy to be deaf and unable to speak
6. Mark 9:26 Other mss omit him
7. Mark 9:29 Other mss omit bracketed text
8. Mark 9:31 Or handed over
9. Mark 9:37 Or Whoever receives
10. Mark 9:38 Other mss add who didn’t go along with us
11. Mark 9:41 Lit drink in the name
12. Mark 9:42 A millstone turned by a donkey
13. Mark 9:44 Other mss omit bracketed text
14. Mark 9:44 Is 66:24
15. Mark 9:46 Other mss omit bracketed text
16. Mark 9:46 Is 66:24
17. Mark 9:48 Is 66:24
18. Mark 9:49 Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
19. Mark 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 17:14-21; 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. 9:29 : Lk 18:12
58. 9:30-32 : Mt 17:22-23; Lk 9:43-45
59. 9:30 : Mk 1:44
60. 9:31 : Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:11
61. 9:31 : Mk 2:10
62. 9:31 : Mt 16:21; Lk 18:33; Ac 2:24
63. 9:31 : Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22
64. 9:32 : Mk 4:40; Lk 2:50
65. 9:33-50 : Mt 18:1-11; Lk 9:46-50
66. 9:33 : Lk 10:15
67. 9:33 : Mk 1:29
68. 9:33 : Mk 8:27
69. 9:34 : Mk 3:4
70. 9:34 : Lk 22:24-27; Ac 8:9
71. 9:35 : Mk 11:11
72. 9:35 : Mt 20:16-27; 23:11; Mk 10:43-44; Lk 22:26
73. 9:36 : Lk 1:7
74. 9:37 : Jn 10:25
75. 9:37 : Mt 15:24; Mk 12:6; Jn 3:16-17
76. 9:37 : Mt 10:40
77. 9:38 : Jn 21:7
78. 9:38 : Mk 4:38
79. 9:38 : Mk 3:15; Rv 9:20
80. 9:38 : Jn 10:25; 14:13
81. 9:38 : Nm 11:26-30
82. 9:39 : Ac 19:11
83. 9:40 : Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23
84. 9:41 : Mt 10:42; 25:35-42; Rm 12:20
85. 9:41 : Mt 1:17; Eph 5:2
86. 9:41 : Rv 22:21
87. 9:41 : Mt 10:42; 2Pt 2:13
88. 9:42 : Ex 23:33; Jn 6:35
89. 9:42 : Jdg 9:53; Mt 24:41; Rv 18:22
90. 9:43 : Mt 5:29-30
91. 9:43 : Mt 15:30-31
92. 9:43 : Mt 3:12; 5:22; 25:41; 2Th 1:8
93. 9:44 : Is 66:24
94. 9:45 : Jn 16:1
95. 9:45 : Jn 5:3
96. 9:45 : 2Th 1:8
97. 9:46 : Is 66:24
98. 9:47 : Mk 1:15
99. 9:47 : 3Jn 10
100. 9:47 : Jms 3:6
101. 9:49 : Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24
102. 9:50 : Mt 5:13; Lk 14:34
103. 9:50 : Ex 30:35; 2Kg 2:19-23; Col 4:6
104. 9:50 : Mt 5:9; Rm 12:18; 14:13; 2Co 13:11; 1Th 5:13; Heb 12:14