3. And Jesus replied to them, saying, Have you never so much as read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him?–[I Sam. 21:1-6.]
4. How he went into the house of God and took and ate the [sacred] loaves of the showbread, which it is not permitted for any except only the priests to eat, and also gave to those [who were] with him? [Lev. 24:9.]
5. And He said to them, The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
6. And it occurred on another Sabbath that when He went into the synagogue and taught, a man was present whose right hand was withered.
7. And the scribes and the Pharisees kept watching Jesus to see whether He would [actually] heal on the Sabbath, in order that they might get [some ground for] accusation against Him.
8. But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the midst. And he arose and stood there.
9. Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good [so that someone derives advantage from it] or to do evil, to save a life [and make a soul safe] or to destroy it?
10. Then He glanced around at them all and said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one.
11. But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
12. Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God.
13. And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers):
14. They were Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
15. And Matthew and Thomas; and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
16. And Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (a treacherous, basely faithless person).
17. And Jesus came down with them and took His stand on a level spot, with a great crowd of His disciples and a vast throng of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to listen to Him and to be cured of their diseases–
18. Even those who were disturbed and troubled with unclean spirits, and they were being healed [also].
19. And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them all [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].
20. And solemnly lifting up His eyes on His disciples, He said: Blessed (happy–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition–and to be envied) are you poor and lowly and afflicted (destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor), for the kingdom of God is yours!
21. Blessed (happy–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition–and to be envied) are you who hunger and seek with eager desire now, for you shall be filled and completely satisfied! Blessed (happy–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition–and to be envied) are you who weep and sob now, for you shall laugh!