17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he sat teaching, that there were also Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, that were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was to heal them.
18And behold, men brought in a bed a man, who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof, and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus.
20Whose faith when he saw, he said: Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22And when Jesus knew their thoughts, answering, he said to them: What is it you think in your hearts?
23Which is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?
24But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.
25And immediately rising up before them, he took up the bed on which he lay; and he went away to his own house, glorifying God.
26And all were astonished; and they glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying: We have seen wonderful things today.
27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and he said to him: Follow me.
28And leaving all things, he rose up and followed him.
29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and there was a great company of publicans, and of others, that were at table with them.
30But the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying to his disciples: Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31And Jesus answering, said to them: They that are whole, need not the physician: but they that are sick.
32I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.
33And they said to him: Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees in like manner; but thine eat and drink?
34To whom he said: Can you make the children of the bridegroom fast, whilst the bridegroom is with them?