7. “Why does this One talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins but Elohim alone?”
8. And immediately יהושע, knowing in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason about all this in your hearts?
9. “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
10. “But in order for you to know that the Son of Aḏam possesses authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
11. “I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12. And he rose straightaway, and took up the bed, and went out before all, so that all were amazed and praised Elohim, saying, “We have never seen the like of it!”
13. And He went out again by the sea, and all the crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them.
14. And passing by, He saw Lĕwi the son of Alphai sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow Me.” And having risen he followed Him.
15. And it came to be, as He sat at the table at his house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat with יהושע and His taught ones, for there were many, and they followed Him.
16. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His taught ones, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
17. And hearing this, יהושע said to them, “Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”
18. And the taught ones of Yoḥanan and of the Pharisees were fasting. And they came and said to Him, “Why do the taught ones of Yoḥanan and of the Pharisees fast, but Your taught ones do not fast?”
19. And יהושע said to them, “Are the friends of the bridegroom able to fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast.