1 ^12:1AT that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the sabbath; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pick the heads and eat. ^12:2And the Pharisees seeing it, said to him, Behold, your disciples do what it is not lawful to do on the sabbath. ^12:3But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him? ^12:4how he entered into the house of God and eat the show bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but only for the priests? ^12:5Or have you not read in the law, that the priests profane the sabbath in the temple, and are blameless? ^12:6But I tell you that here is an object greater than the temple. ^12:7But if you had known what, I wish for mercy and not a sacrifice, means, you would not have condemned the innocent; ^12:8for the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.

2 ^12:9And departing thence he went into their synagogue, ^12:10and behold a man having a withered hand [was there]. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath? that they might accuse him. ^12:11And he said to them, What man is there of you having one sheep, who if this falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? ^12:12How much then is a man better than a sheep! So that it is lawful to do good on the sabbath. ^12:13Then he said to the man, Stretch out your hand; and he stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other; ^12:14and the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to destroy him.

3 ^12:15But Jesus knowing it departed thence, and great multitudes followed him; and he cured them all, ^12:16and charged them not to make him known; ^12:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying; ^12:18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my spirit on him, and he shall declare judgment to the nations. ^12:19He shall not strive nor cry aloud, nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets. ^12:20A bruised reed shall he not break, and a smoking flax shall he not extinguish, till he sends forth judgment to victory. ^12:21And in his name shall nations hope.