1 BUT in those days when the multitude was great and there was nothing for them to eat, he called his disciples, and said to them,

2 I have compassion on this multitude, for behold three days have they continued with me, and there is nothing which they may eat.

3 And if it be that I send them away fasting to their houses, they will faint in the way; for some of them come from afar.

4 His disciples say to him, Whence can any one here in the wilderness satisfy with bread all these?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have you? They say to him, Seven;

6 and he directed the multitudes to recline upon the ground, and he took those seven loaves, and blessed and brake and gave to his disciples that they should set, and they set before the assemblies.

7 And there were fishes, a few: and also over them he blessed, and said that they should set them.

8 And they all ate and were satisfied, and took up the abundancies of the fragments, seven panniers.

9 Now the men who had eaten were about four thousand: and he dismissed them,