Yesu alipomaliza kuwaambia watu mambo haya alikwenda Kaper naumu. Huko mtumishi wa jemadari mmoja wa Kirumi ambaye bwana wake alimpenda, alikuwa mgonjwa sana, karibu ya kufa. Jemadari huyo aliposikia habari za Yesu aliwatuma wazee wa Kiyahudi wakam wombe aje kumponya mtumishi wake. Wale wazee walipofika kwa Yesu walimsihi sana amsaidie yule jemadari wakisema, “Mtu huyu anastahili msaada wako kwani yeye analipenda taifa letu, tena ametujengea sinagogi.”

Hivyo Yesu akaongozana nao. Hata alipoikaribia nyumba yake, yule jemadari aliwatuma rafiki zake, kumwambia Yesu, “Bwana, usijisumbue kuingia nyumbani kwangu. Sistahili heshima kubwa kiasi hicho, wala sikuona ninastahili mimi kuja kukuona binafsi. Sema neno moja tu na mtumishi wangu atapona. Katika nafasi yangu ya kazi nina wakubwa wangu na wapo askari wengine chini ya mamlaka yangu. Nikitoa amri kwa askari, ‘Nenda!’ huenda; nikimwambia mwingine, ‘Njoo!’ huja; na nikimwambia mtumishi wangu, ‘Fanya hiki,’ hufanya.” Yesu aliposikia maneno haya alishangaa sana. Akawageukia wale watu walioongozana naye aka waambia, “Hata katika Israeli yote sijakutana na mtu mwenye imani kama hii.” 10 Na wale waliotumwa kwa Yesu waliporudi nyumbani kwa yule jemadari walikuta yule mtumishi amepona kabisa.

Yesu Amfufua Mtoto Wa Mjane

11 Baada ya siku hiyo, Yesu alikwenda mji mmoja uitwao Naini. Wanafunzi wake na umati wa watu waliongozana naye. 12 Alipokaribia njia ya kuingia mjini alikutana na watu wal iobeba maiti wakitoka nje ya mji. Marehemu alikuwa mtoto wa kiume wa pekee wa mama mmoja mjane na umati wa watu wa mji ule ulikuwa pamoja na huyo mama. 13 Bwana Yesu alipomwona yule mjane moyo wake ulijaa huruma, akamwambia, “Usilie.” 14 Kisha akalisoge lea lile jeneza akaligusa na wale waliolibeba wakasimama. Ndipo akasema: “Kijana nakuambia, amka!” 15 Yule aliyekuwa marehemu akaamka, akakaa na akaanza kusema! Yesu akamkabidhi kwa mama yake.

16 Watu wote wakajawa na hofu. Wakamtukuza Mungu wakisema, “Nabii mkuu ametokea kati yetu. Mungu amekuja kutuokoa sisi watu wake.” 17 Habari hizi za mambo aliyofanya Yesu zikaenea Uyahudi nzima na sehemu za jirani.

Hakuna Aliye Mkuu Kuliko Yohana

18 Wanafunzi wa Yohana Mbatizaji walipomweleza Yohana habari hizi zote aliwaita wawili kati yao 19 akawatuma wakamwulize Bwana Yesu, “Wewe ndiye yule ajaye, au tumtazamie mwingine?”

201 Walipofika kwa Yesu wakamwambia, “Yohana Mbatizaji ametutuma tukuulize, ‘Wewe ndiye yule ajaye au tumtazamie mwin gine?”’

21 Wakati huo huo, Yesu aliwaponya wengi waliokuwa na magonjwa, maumivu na pepo wachafu. Pia akawawezesha vipofu wengi kuona. 22 Ndipo akawajibu wale wanafunzi waliotumwa, “Nendeni mkamwambie Yohana yote mliyoyaona na kusikia: vipofu wanapata kuona, vilema wanatembea, wenye ukoma wanapona, viziwi wanasikia, wafu wanafufuliwa na maskini wanasikia Habari Njema. 23 Amebari kiwa mtu asiyepoteza imani yake kwangu.” 24 Wanafunzi wa Yohana walipoondoka, Yesu akaanza kuwaeleza watu juu ya Yohana: “Hivi mlipokwenda nyikani mlikwenda kuona nini? Nyasi zikipeperushwa na upepo? 25 Kama sivyo, mlikwenda kuona nini basi? Mtu aliyevaa nguo za fahari? Sidhani! Watu wanaovaa nguo za fahari na kuishi maisha ya anasa hukaa katika majumba makubwa. 26 Sasa mlikwenda kuona nini? Mlikwenda kuona nabii? Naam! Tena aliye mkuu kuliko nabii. 27 Huyu Yohana ndiye anayezungumzwa katika Maandiko yase mayo: ‘Tazama, namtuma mjumbe wangu akutangulie, ili akuandalie njia.’ 28 Nawaambia, kati ya binadamu wote, hakuna aliye mkuu kumzidi Yohana. Hata hivyo aliye mdogo kabisa katika Ufalme wa Mungu ni mkuu kuliko Yohana. 29 Watu wote waliosikia maneno hayo, ikiwa ni pamoja na watoza ushuru, walimtukuza Mungu kwa kuwa wao waliukubali ubatizo wa Yohana. 30 Bali Mafarisayo na wanasheria walikataa mpango wa Mungu kwao kwa kutokukubali kubatizwa na Yohana. 31 Yesu akawau liza, “Niseme nini juu ya watu wa kizazi hiki? Niwafananishe na nini? 32 Wao wamefanana na watoto waliokaa sokoni wakijibizana na wenzao wakisema: ‘Tuliwaimbia nyimbo za shangwe, hamkucheza. Tuliwaimbia nyimbo za msiba, hamkuomboleza.’ 33 Yohana Mbatizaji alikuwa akifunga na hakuonja divai maishani mwake, ninyi mkasema, ‘Ana wazimu!’ 34 Lakini mimi nakula na kunywa, nanyi mnasema: ‘Mtazameni mlafi na mlevi! Rafiki wa watoza kodi na wenye dhambi.’ 35 Lakini hekima ya Mungu inadhihirishwa kuwa kweli na wote wanaoipokea.”

Mwanamke Aliyempaka Yesu Manukato

36 Farisayo mmoja alimwalika Yesu nyumbani kwake kwa chak ula. Naye akaenda akakaa ale chakula. 37 Katika mji ule palikuwa na mwanamke mmoja kahaba. Naye aliposikia kuwa Yesu atakula nyum bani kwa yule Farisayo, alichukua chupa ya alabasta iliyojaa man ukato 38 akaenda, akakaa nyuma ya Yesu, karibu na miguu yake. Kisha akaanza kulia, machozi yake yakidondokea miguuni mwa Yesu, akayafuta kwa nywele zake. Huku akimbusu miguu na kuimiminia yale manukato.

39 Yule Farisayo aliyemwalika Yesu alipoona yanayotendeka, akawaza moyoni mwake, “Huyu mtu hawezi kuwa ni nabii. Kama ange kuwa nabii angetambua kuwa huyu mwanamke ni kahaba.” 40 Kisha Yesu akijua mawazo ya yule Farisayo akamwambia, “Simoni, kuna jambo nataka kukuambia.” Simoni akajibu “Sema, mwalimu.” 41 “Palikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyewakopesha watu wawili fedha: mmoja shillingi elfu tano na mwingine shillingi mia tano. 42 Wote wawili wakashindwa kulipa madeni yao, kwa hiyo akaamua kuwasamehe. Unadhani kati yao, ni yupi aliyempenda zaidi yule aliyewasamehe?” 43 Simoni akajibu, “Nadhani ni yule aliyesame hewa deni kubwa zaidi.” Yesu akamwambia, “Umejibu sawa.” 44 Ndipo akamgeukia yule mwanamke akamwambia Simoni, “Unamwona mwanamke huyu? Niliingia nyumbani kwako hukunipa maji ya kunawa miguu, lakini huyu ameniosha miguu kwa machozi yake na kunifuta kwa nywele zake. 45 Hukunisalimu kwa busu, lakini huyu mwanamke amekuwa akiibusu miguu yangu tangu niingie hapa. 46 Hukunipaka mafuta kichwani kama ilivyo desturi lakini huyu mwanamke ameipaka miguu yangu manukato. 47 Kwa hiyo nakuambia, upendo mkubwa aliouonyesha huyu mama unathibitisha kuwa dhambi zake ambazo ni nyingi zimesamehewa. Lakini ye yote asamehewaye kidogo, huonyesha upendo kidogo.”

48 Akamwambia yule mwanamke, “Dhambi zako zimesamehewa.” 49 Ndipo wale wageni wengine waliokuwepo wakaanza kuulizana, “Hivi huyu ni nani, hata aweze kusamehe dhambi?” 50 Yesu akam wambia yule mwanamke, “Imani yako imekuokoa; nenda kwa amani.”

The Faith of the Centurion(A)

When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son(D)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord(E) saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”(F) 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe(G) and praised God.(H) “A great prophet(I) has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”(J) 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.(K)

Jesus and John the Baptist(L)

18 John’s(M) disciples(N) told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses(O) and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(P) 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet?(Q) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[b](R)

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God(S) is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.(T) 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law(U) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,(V) and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(W) 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman(X)(Y)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,(Z) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,(AA) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss,(AB) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,(AC) but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(AD)

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;(AE) go in peace.”(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:22 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Luke 7:27 Mal. 3:1
  3. Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.