Luke 5:5

New Century Version

Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will."

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And Simon answered and sayde to him: Master we have labored all nyght and have taken nothinge. Neverthelater at thy worde I will loose forthe the net.

Hebrew Names Version
Shim`on answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."

International Standard Version
Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."

New American Standard Bible
Simon responded and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets."

Update Bible Version
And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at your word I will let down the nets.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.

Amplified Bible
Simon replied, "Master, we worked hard all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing [in our nets], but at Your word I will [do as you say and] lower the nets [again]."

English Standard Version
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."

World English Bible
Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But Simon answering said to him, Master, Having toiled all the night, we have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Rabbi," replied Peter, "all night long we have worked hard and caught nothing; but at your command I will let down the nets."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Symount answeride, and seide to hym, Comaundoure, we traueliden al the nyyt, and token no thing, but in thi word Y schal leye out the net.

English Revised Version
And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

Berean Standard Bible
"Master," Simon replied, "we have worked through the night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets."

Contemporary English Version
"Master," Simon answered, "we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down."

American Standard Version
And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

Bible in Basic English
And Simon, answering, said, Master, we were working all night and we took nothing: but at your word I will let down the nets.

Complete Jewish Bible
Shim‘on answered, "We've worked hard all night long, Rabbi, and haven't caught a thing! But if you say so, I'll let down the nets."

Darby Translation
And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net.

Etheridge Translation
Shemun answered and said to him, Rabi, the whole night we have laboured and nothing have we taken; but at thy word I throw the net.

Murdock Translation
Simon answered, and said to him: Rabbi, all the night we have toiled, and have caught nothing: but, at thy bidding, I will cast the net.

King James Version (1611)
And Simon answering, said vnto him, Master, wee haue toiled all the night, and haue taken nothing: neuerthelesse at thy word I will let downe the net.

New Living Translation
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."

New Life Bible
Simon said to Him, "Teacher, we have worked all night and we have caught nothing. But because You told me to, I will let the net down."

New Revised Standard
Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Simon answered, and sayd vnto him, Master, we haue trauailed sore all night, & haue taken nothing: neuerthelesse at thy worde I will let downe the net.

George Lamsa Translation
Simon answered and said to him, Teacher, we have toiled all night, and have caught nothing; but just because of your word, I will cast the net.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Simon, answering, said - Master! although through the whole night we toiled, we took, nothing; howbeit, at thy bidding, I will let down the nets.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.

Revised Standard Version
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Simon aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Maister, we haue laboured all nyght, and haue taken nothyng: Neuerthelesse, at thy commaundement I wyll loose foorth the nette.

Good News Translation
"Master," Simon answered, "we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets."

Christian Standard Bible®
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

King James Version
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Lexham English Bible
And Simon answered and said, "Master, although we worked hard through the whole night, we caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets."

Literal Translation
And answering, Simon said to Him, Master, laboring all through the night we took nothing. But at Your word I will let down the net.

Young's Literal Translation
and Simon answering said to him, `Master, through the whole night, having laboured, we have taken nothing, but at thy saying I will let down the net.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Symon answered and sayde vnto him: Master, we haue laboured all ye night, and taken nothinge. But vpo thy worde, I wil lowse forth the nett.

Mace New Testament (1729)
master, said Simon, we have toil'd all the night, without any prize: however, since you give the word, I will throw the net.

THE MESSAGE
Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

New English Translation
Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets."

New King James Version
But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

Simplified Cowboy Version
Simon told him, "Sir, we fished out there all night and didn't catch nothing. But if you say so, we'll go out again."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets."

Legacy Standard Bible
Simon answered and said, "Master, we labored all night and caught nothing, but at Your word, I will let down the nets."

Contextual Overview

¹ One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God. ² Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat. ⁴ When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish." ⁵ Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will." ⁶ When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. ⁷ They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!" ⁹ He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were ¹⁰ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: Psalms 127:1, Psalms 127:2, Ezekiel 37:11, Ezekiel 37:12, John 21:3

nevertheless: Luke 6:46-48, 2 Kings 5:10-14, Ezekiel 37:4-7, John 2:5, John 15:14

Reciprocal: Habakkuk 1:15 - they catch Acts 2:41 - added

Cross-References

Genesis 3:19
You will sweat and work hard for your food. Later you will return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and when you die, you will return to the dust."

Genesis 5:7
After Enosh was born, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:8
So Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:10
After Kenan was born, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:11
So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:12
When Kenan was 70 years old, he had a son named Mahalalel.

Genesis 5:14
So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:21
When Enoch was 65 years old, he had a son named Methuselah.

Genesis 5:22
After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God 300 years more and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Simon answering said unto him, master,.... Or Rabbi, as the Syriac version renders it: he knew him to be the Messiah, the king of Israel, and a teacher sent from God:

we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; which carries in it an objection to what Christ advised and directed to: they had been fishing that "night", which was the best time for catching fish; and they had been at it all the night, and had "laboured" hard; and were even "fatigued", and quite wearied out; and what was most discouraging of all, their labour was in vain; they had caught "nothing":

nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net; which showed faith in Christ, and obedience to him: thus the faithful preachers of the Gospel, sometimes labour and toil in the ministry of the word a great while, with little or no success; and are discouraged from going on, and would be tempted to leave off, were it not for the commission and word of command they have received from Christ, which they dare not be disobedient to; and for the word of promise he has given them, to be with them, on which they depend.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Master - This is the first time that the word here translated “Master” occurs in the New Testament, and it is used only by Luke. The other evangelists call him Rabbi, or Lord. The word here used means a “prefect,” or one placed “over” others, and hence, it comes to mean “teacher” or “guide.”

At thy word - At thy command. Though it seemed so improbable that they would take anything after having in vain toiled all night, yet he was willing to trust the word of Jesus and make the trial. This was a remarkable instance of “faith.” Peter, as it appears, knew little then of Jesus. He was not then a chosen apostle. Jesus came to these fishermen almost a stranger and unknown, and yet at his command Peter resolved to make another trial, and go once more out into the deep. Oh, if all would as readily obey him, all would be in like manner blessed. If sinners would thus obey him, they would find all his promises sure. He never disappoints. He asks only that we have “confidence” in him, and he will give to us every needful blessing.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 5:5. Simon - said - Master — επιστατα. This is the first place where this word occurs; it is used by none of the inspired penmen but Luke, and he applies it only to our blessed Lord. It properly signifies a prefect, or one who is set over certain affairs or persons: it is used also for an instructer, or teacher. Peter considered Christ, from what he had heard, as teacher of a Divine doctrine, and as having authority to command, c. He seems to comprise both ideas in this appellation he listened attentively to his teaching, and readily obeyed his orders. To hear attentively, and obey cheerfully, are duties we owe, not only to the sovereign Master of the world, but also to ourselves. No man ever took Jesus profitably for his teacher, who did not at the same time receive him as his Lord.

We have toiled all the night — They had cast the net several times in the course of the night, and drew it to shore without success, and were now greatly disheartened. I have seen several laborious draughts of this kind made without fruit. All labour must be fruitless where the blessing of God is not; but especially that of the ministry. It is the presence and influence of Christ, in a congregation, that cause souls to be gathered unto himself: without these, whatever the preacher's eloquence or abilities may be, all will be night, and fruitless labour.

At thy word I will let down the net. — He who assumes the character of a fisher of men, under any authority that does not proceed from Christ, is sure to catch nothing; but he who labours by the order and under the direction of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, cannot labour in vain.