17 One of the people said, Teacher, I brought my son to you. A bad spirit is in him so he cannot talk.
18 Wherever it takes hold of him, it throws him around. It makes him foam at his mouth. It makes him make noises with his teeth. He is getting weak and thin. I asked your disciples to drive the bad spirit out, but they could not do it.
19 Jesus said, You people today do not believe. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.
20 So they brought the boy to him. As soon as the bad spirit saw him, he threw the boy around. The boy fell on the ground and rolled around. Foam was coming from his mouth.
21 Jesus asked the father, How long has he had this spirit? He answered, Since he was a child.
22 Often it has thrown him in the fire and in the water. It has tried to kill him. If you can do anything for him, show us that you share our suffering by helping us.
23 Jesus said to him, You say, "If you can." Anything can be done for the person who believes.
24 Right away the father of the child, with tears in his eyes, said loudly, I do believe! Help me to believe more!
25 Jesus saw many people come running together. He talked to the bad spirit: You bad spirit who stops the boy from hearing and talking! I tell you, come out of him and do not go into him again!
26 The bad spirit screamed and threw the boy around. Then it came out of him and left him like a dead person. Many of the people even said, The boy is dead.
27 But Jesus took his hand and helped him to get up. The boy stood up.