3 when some people came and brought him a paralyzed man being carried by four men.

4 Since they couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where he was. They dug through it and let down the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man,"Son, your sins are forgiven."

6 Now some scribes were sitting there, arguing among themselves,

7 "Why does this man talk this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 At once, Jesus knew in his spirit what they were saying to themselves. He said to them,"Why are you arguing about such things among yourselves?

9 Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your cot, and walk’?

10 But I want you to knowthat the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."Then he said to the paralyzed man,

11 "I say to you, get up, pick up your cot, and go home!"

12 So the man got up, immediately picked up his cot, and went out before all of them.As a result, all of the people were amazed and began to glorify God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"