5 ¹ One day as he stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the people crowded upon him to listen to the word of God, 5 ² he noticed two boats lying at the water's edge; the fishermen had come ashore and were washing their nets. 5 ³ He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore; then he went on teaching the crowds from his seat in the boat. 5 ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' 5 ⁵ Simon answered, 'Master, we were hard at work all night and caught nothing at all; but if you say so, I will let down the nets.' 5 ⁶ They did so and made a big haul of fish; and their nets began to split. 5 ⁷ So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. This they did, and loaded both boats to the point of sinking. 5 ⁸ When Simon saw what had happened he fell at Jesus's knees and said, 'Go, Lord, leave me, sinner that I am!' 5 ⁹ For he and all his companions were amazed at the catch they had made; 5 ¹⁰ so too were his partners James and John, Zebedee's sons. 'Do not be afraid,' said Jesus to Simon; 'from now on you will be catching men.' 5 ¹¹ As soon as they had brought the boats to land, they left everything and followed him.