1
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.
2
He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3
Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5
“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.”
6
And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
7
A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”