6. Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7. “Why does this One talk like this? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins but Elohim alone?”
8. And immediately יהושע, knowing in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason about all this in your hearts?
9. “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
10. “But in order for you to know that the Son of Aḏam possesses authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
11. “I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12. And he rose straightaway, and took up the bed, and went out before all, so that all were amazed and praised Elohim, saying, “We have never seen the like of it!”
13. And He went out again by the sea, and all the crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them.
14. And passing by, He saw Lĕwi the son of Alphai sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow Me.” And having risen he followed Him.
15. And it came to be, as He sat at the table at his house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat with יהושע and His taught ones, for there were many, and they followed Him.
16. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His taught ones, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”