² Just then^(A) some men^[a] brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”^(B)

³ At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” ^(C)

⁴ Perceiving their thoughts,^(D) Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?^{[b] 5} For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” ⁷ So he got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck^[c][d] and gave glory^(E) to God, who had given such authority to men.

³ They came to him bringing a paralytic,^(A) carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they were not able to bring him to^[a] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ Seeing their faith,^(B) Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins^(C) are forgiven.”^(D)

⁶ But some of the scribes^(E) were sitting there, questioning^(F) in their hearts: ⁷ “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming!^(G) Who can forgive^(H) sins^(I) but God alone?” ^(J)

⁸ Right away^(K) Jesus perceived in his spirit^(L) that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier:^(M) to say to the paralytic,^(N) ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?^{(O) 10} But so that you may know that the Son of Man^(P) has authority^(Q) on earth to forgive sins”^(R)—he told the paralytic— ¹¹ “I tell you: get up,^(S) take your mat, and go home.”

¹² Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded^(T) and gave glory^(U) to God,^(V) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ^(W)