1
One day Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret while the people pushed their way up to him to listen to the word of God. 1
2
He saw two boats pulled up on the beach; the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets.
3
Jesus got into one of the boats - it belonged to Simon - and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.
4
When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch."
5
"Master," Simon answered, "we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets." 2
6
They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. 3