Matthew 9:5

Simplified Cowboy Version

What's easier for me to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?'

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

King James Version (1611)
For whether is easier to say, Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee: or to say, Arise, and walke?

King James Version
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

English Standard Version
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise and walk'?

New American Standard Bible
"For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

New Century Version
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk'?

Amplified Bible
"For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? [Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.]

Geneva Bible (1587)
For whether is it easier to say, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee, or to say, Arise, and walke?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'?

Legacy Standard Bible
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up and walk'?

Berean Standard Bible
Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?'

Contemporary English Version
Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk?

Complete Jewish Bible
Tell me, which is easier to say — ‘Your sins are forgiven' or ‘Get up and walk'?

Darby Translation
For which is easier: to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Easy-to-Read Version
The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.' There's no proof that it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up and walk'? Then you will be able to see that I really have this power." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up. Take your mat and go home."

George Lamsa Translation
For which is easier to say, Your sins have been forgiven, or to say, Arise and walk?

Good News Translation
Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up and walk'?

Lexham English Bible
For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up and walk'?

Literal Translation
For what is easier, to say, Your sins are remitted, or to say, Rise up and walk?

American Standard Version
For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Bible in Basic English
For which is the simpler, to say, You have forgiveness for your sins; or to say, Get up and go?

Hebrew Names Version
For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'

International Standard Version
For which is easier: to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

Etheridge Translation
For which is easier, to say, Forgiven are thy sins, or to say, Arise, walk ?

Murdock Translation
For, which is the easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whether is easyer to say, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee? Or to say, aryse and walke?

English Revised Version
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

World English Bible
For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For which is easier?

Weymouth's New Testament
Why, which is easier? --to say, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say `Rise up and walk'?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What is liytere to seye, Thi synnes ben foryouun to thee, ethir `to seie, Rise thou, and walke?

Update Bible Version
For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Webster's Bible Translation
For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

New English Translation
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven' or to say, ‘Stand up and walk'?

New King James Version
For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'?

New Living Translation
Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Stand up and walk'?

New Life Bible
Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up and walk?'

New Revised Standard
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Stand up and walk'?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For which is easier - To say, Forgiven are thy sins, - or to say, Rise and be walking!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and walk?

Revised Standard Version
For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Whether ys esyer to saye thy synnes be forgeven ye or to saye: arise and walke?

Young's Literal Translation
for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whether ys it easier to saye: thy synnes be forgeue ye, or to saie: arise and walke?

Mace New Testament (1729)
for is it not as easy to say, thy sins are forgiven? as to say, arise, and walk?

Contextual Overview

¹Jesus got in a boat and headed for the town where he was raised. ²Some fellows brought him a guy who was paralyzed and could not move, lying on a bedroll. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the guy on the bedroll, "Don't worry amigo, your sins are forgiven." ³Some teachers of the Law said to each other, "This fella can't do that and get away with it!" ⁴Jesus knew what they were thinking and saying. He said to them, "Why are your minds filled with evil? ⁵What's easier for me to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?' ⁶Just so you know, the Boss's Son can forgive sins here on earth." Then he told the man who couldn't move, "Get up, take your bedroll and mosey on back home." ⁷The man did just that. ⁸When everyone saw this, they were amazed and praised the Boss, who had given this type of authority and power to men.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

whether: Mark 2:9-12, Luke 5:23-25

Arise: Isaiah 35:5, Isaiah 35:6, John 5:8-14, John 5:17, John 5:18, Acts 3:6-11, Acts 3:16, Acts 4:9, Acts 4:10, Acts 9:34, Acts 14:8-11

Reciprocal: Matthew 9:6 - Arise

Cross-References

Matthew 23:35
That's why you'll be found guilty for every cowboy, starting with Abel.

Acts 17:26
He started this world with one cowboy. It was through this cowboy that every ranch and every cowpoke who ever pushed a cow came to be. God decided the boundaries and how good the grass would be on each of them. He determined long ago when each would rise and fall.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For whether is easier to say,..... Christ proceeds to clear himself of the charge of blasphemy, and to prove his power to forgive sins, by putting a case to them, of which he makes themselves Judges, and is this: which is easiest to be said,

thy sins are forgiven thee? or to say, arise and walk? Neither of them were easy to a mere creature, but both of them easy to God; and he that could say the one with power and efficacy going along with his word, could say the other as effectually: and whereas it was a plain case, and out of all question, that he could bid this "paralytic" man, though in this weak condition, arise from his bed, stand upon his feet, and go home of himself; and since he had already healed many that were sick of the palsy, and particularly the "centurion's" servant, by a word speaking, he must have equal power to forgive sin. For to heal the diseases of the body in such a wonderful manner, was a very sensible proof of his power to heal the maladies of the soul; and though these are greater than those of the body, yet since both require divine power, he that is able to do the one, is able to do the other. And that it might appear he did not say this in a boasting manner, he adds,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For whether is easier to say - Thy “sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?” The one involves divine “power,” the other divine “authority,” and neither can be done but by God. One is as easy as the other; and to be able to do the one, involves the right and the power to do the other.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 9:5. For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? — Both are equally easy, and equally difficult; for both require unlimited power to produce them. And every thing is equally easy to that power which is unlimited. A universe can be as easily produced by a single act of the Divine will as the smallest elementary part of matter.

The common punctuation of the above passage almost destroys the sense: the comma should be placed after easier, and to say, made the first part of the question.