Matthew 17 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and James's brother John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone.

Right there in front of them, he was transformed. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as bright as pure light.

Then suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with him.

Peter jumped in and said to Jesus, "Master, it's amazing that we're here! If you want, I'll set up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still talking, a bright cloud suddenly surrounded them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, the one I deeply love. He makes me so happy. Listen to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell face-down on the ground, absolutely terrified.

But Jesus came over, touched them, and said, "Get up. Don't be afraid."

When they looked up, they didn't see anyone except Jesus, alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus told them, "Don't tell anyone what you just saw until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The disciples asked him, "Then why do the religious scholars say that Elijah has to come first?"

Jesus answered, "Elijah does come, and he will put everything back in order."

But I'm telling you, Elijah has already come. They didn't recognize him and did whatever they wanted to him. The Son of Man is going to suffer the same way at their hands."

Then the disciples understood he was talking about John the Submerger.

When they reached the crowd, a man came up and knelt before Jesus.

"Master, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into fire or into water."

I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."

Jesus responded, "You stubborn generation with no trust! How long do I have to be with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."

Jesus commanded the demon and it came out of the boy. From that moment on, the boy was healed.

Later, the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He told them, "Because you have so little trust. I'm telling you the truth — if you have trust even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you."

[This verse is not included in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts.]

While they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be handed over to people,

and they will kill him, but on the third day he will be raised back to life." The disciples were overwhelmed with grief.

When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," Peter answered. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. "What do you think, Simon? Who do the kings of the world collect taxes and fees from — their own children or from other people?"

"From other people," Peter replied. Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free."

"But we don't want to cause an unnecessary problem for them. So go down to the lake, throw in a fishing line, and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You'll find a four-drachma coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us."