Note the word “beginner’s” in the title above. PLEASE do not base your theology or beliefs on this particular rendering of the Greek text. At this point I have had only one year of New Testament Greek, and I know very well that this translation has some faults. My reason for making this translation is to keep my Greek skills sharp, not to create a better English translation. (We already have more English translations than we can count.) Consider this an exercise, and feel free to help me out where I messed up. This is a learning experience for me!
Much thanks to Logos Bible Software for the Greek text, the SBLGNT Greek New Testament Reader for Android app for quick parsing and lexical hints, and StudyLight.org and Daily Dose of Greek for additional insights into the meanings of words I’ve never heard of before.
Mark Chapter 1
| 1 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ. | 1. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, |
| 2 Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ· Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου· | 2. even as it was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, “Behold I send my messenger before your face, who is preparing your way. |
| 3 φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, | 3. A voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” |
| 4 ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. | 4. It came to pass John the Baptist [was] in the desert preaching baptism of repentance in forgiveness of sins. |
| 5 καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. | 5. And all the region of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him, and were being baptized by him in the Jordan river confessing their sins. |
| 6 καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσθων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. | 6. And John was clothed with camel’s hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. |
| 7 καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων· Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· | 7. And he was preaching, saying, “One who is mightier than me is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not able to stoop to loose. |
| 8 ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. | 8. I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” |
| 9 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου. | 9. And it came to pass in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. |
| 10 καὶ εὐθὺς ἀναβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος εἶδεν σχιζομένους τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὡς περιστερὰν καταβαῖνον εἰς αὐτόν· | 10. And immediately coming up out of the water he saw the heavens split and the Spirit like a dove coming down into him. |
| 11 καὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν· Σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα. | 11. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved son, in you I am well pleased.” |
| 12 Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτὸν ἐκβάλλει εἰς τὴν ἔρημον. | 12. And immediately the spirit sent him out to the wilderness. |
| 13 καὶ ἦν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσεράκοντα ἡμέρας πειραζόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ, καὶ ἦν μετὰ τῶν θηρίων, καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι διηκόνουν αὐτῷ. | 13. And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan, and he was with the [wild] animals and angels were serving him. |
| 14 Καὶ μετὰ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν Ἰωάννην ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ | 14. And after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God, |
| 15 καὶ λέγων ὅτι Πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ· μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. | 15. and saying, “The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near; repent and believe in the good news!” |
| 16 Καὶ παράγων παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν Σίμωνα καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν Σίμωνος ἀμφιβάλλοντας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς· | 16. And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew the brother of Simon casting their nets in the sea, for they were fishermen. |
| 17 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς γενέσθαι ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων. | 17. And Jesus said unto them, “Come after me, and I will make you to be fishermen of men.” |
| 18 καὶ εὐθὺς ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ. | 18. And immediately they left the fish nets and followed him. |
| 19 καὶ προβὰς ὀλίγον εἶδεν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα, | 19. And going on a little, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they [were] in the boat repairing the fish nets. |
| 20 καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν Ζεβεδαῖον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶν ἀπῆλθον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ. | 20. And immediately he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, they departed after him. |
| 21 Καὶ εἰσπορεύονται εἰς Καφαρναούμ. καὶ εὐθὺς τοῖς σάββασιν ἐδίδασκεν εἰς τὴν συναγωγήν. | 21. And they entered into Capernaum. And immediately he was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbaths. |
| 22 καὶ ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ, ἦν γὰρ διδάσκων αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐξουσίαν ἔχων καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ γραμματεῖς. | 22. And they were amazed at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not like the scribes. |
| 23 καὶ εὐθὺς ἦν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν ἄνθρωπος ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ καὶ ἀνέκραξεν | 23. And then a man with an unclean spirit was in the synagogue and he cried out, saying, |
| 24 λέγων· Τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ; ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς; οἶδά σε τίς εἶ, ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ. | 24. “What to us and to you, Jesus Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the holy one of God.” |
| 25 καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· Φιμώθητι καὶ ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ. | 25. And Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” |
| 26 καὶ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἀκάθαρτον καὶ φωνῆσαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ. | 26. And after having convulsed him and called out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. |
| 27 καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες, ὥστε συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντας· Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο; διδαχὴ καινή· κατʼ ἐξουσίαν καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ. | 27. And they were all amazed, so that [they began] to discuss with themselves, saying, “What is this new teaching coming with authority? He is commanding even the unclean spirits, and they are obeying him.” |
| 28 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εὐθὺς πανταχοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον τῆς Γαλιλαίας. | 28. And immediately his fame went out everywhere into all the surrounding regions of Galilee. |
| 29 Καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς ἐξελθόντες ἦλθον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Σίμωνος καὶ Ἀνδρέου μετὰ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου. | 29. And then departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew along with James and John. |
| 30 ἡ δὲ πενθερὰ Σίμωνος κατέκειτο πυρέσσουσα, καὶ εὐθὺς λέγουσιν αὐτῷ περὶ αὐτῆς. | 30. But Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down sick because of a fever, and so they speak to him about her. |
| 31 καὶ προσελθὼν ἤγειρεν αὐτὴν κρατήσας τῆς χειρός· καὶ ἀφῆκεν αὐτὴν ὁ πυρετός, καὶ διηκόνει αὐτοῖς. | 31. And going in, he raised her up, taking her by the hand; and the fever left her, and she was serving them. |
| 32 Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης, ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους· | 32. But after evening came, when the sun was set, they were bringing to him all who had illnesses and were possessed by demons. |
| 33 καὶ ἦν ὅλη ἡ πόλις ἐπισυνηγμένη πρὸς τὴν θύραν. | 33. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. |
| 34 καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις, καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν, καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν τὰ δαιμόνια, ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν. | 34. And he healed many who were sick with different diseases, and cast out many demons, and did not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. |
| 35 Καὶ πρωῒ ἔννυχα λίαν ἀναστὰς ἐξῆλθεν καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κἀκεῖ προσηύχετο. | 35. And very early in the morning while it was still night he got up, went out, and departed into a deserted place and there he was praying. |
| 36 καὶ κατεδίωξεν αὐτὸν Σίμων καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, | 36. And Simon and those with him searched urgently for him. |
| 37 καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ὅτι Πάντες ζητοῦσίν σε. | 37. And they found him and said to him, “Everyone is seeking you.” |
| 38 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἄγωμεν ἀλλαχοῦ εἰς τὰς ἐχομένας κωμοπόλεις, ἵνα καὶ ἐκεῖ κηρύξω, εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξῆλθον. | 38. And he says to them, “Let us go elsewhere into the neighboring market towns, in order that I may also preach there, for this [reason] I came out. |
| 39 καὶ ἦλθεν κηρύσσων εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν εἰς ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐκβάλλων. | 39. And he went preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons in the whole [region] of Galilee. |
| 40 Καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτὸν λεπρὸς παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ γονυπετῶν λέγων αὐτῷ ὅτι Ἐὰν θέλῃς δύνασαί με καθαρίσαι. | 40. And a leper comes to him, beseeching him, and kneeling says to him, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” |
| 41 καὶ ὀργισθεὶς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἥψατο καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Θέλω, καθαρίσθητι· | 41. And having compassion, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I am willing, be cleansed!” |
| 42 καὶ εὐθὺς ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα, καὶ ἐκαθαρίσθη. | 42. And immediately the leprosy went from him, and he was cleansed. |
| 43 καὶ ἐμβριμησάμενος αὐτῷ εὐθὺς ἐξέβαλεν αὐτόν, | 43. And after sternly warning him, he immediately sent him out, |
| 44 καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὅρα μηδενὶ μηδὲν εἴπῃς, ἀλλὰ ὕπαγε σεαυτὸν δεῖξον τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ προσένεγκε περὶ τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ σου ἃ προσέταξεν Μωϋσῆς εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς. | 44. and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and make the offering concerning your cleansing which Moses commanded, for a witness to them. |
| 45 ὁ δὲ ἐξελθὼν ἤρξατο κηρύσσειν πολλὰ καὶ διαφημίζειν τὸν λόγον, ὥστε μηκέτι αὐτὸν δύνασθαι φανερῶς εἰς πόλιν εἰσελθεῖν, ἀλλὰ ἔξω ἐπʼ ἐρήμοις τόποις ἦν· καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντοθεν. | 45. But he went out, began to proclaim [to] many, and spread the news abroad, so that he was no longer able to openly enter into town, but he was outside at deserted places; and they were coming to him on all sides. |
| Holmes, M. W. (2011–2013). The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Mk 1). Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature. |