Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Mark 1:40-45:

A man with leprosy came and knelt down to Jesus,
begging, “Your power can make me well,
       if only you are willing.”

Jesus felt sorrow for the man.
So he placed his hand on him and said,
       “I’m willing—now you are well.”
At once the leprosy disappeared!

Jesus sent the man away with a warning,
“Don’t tell anyone except those you must
       to be pronounced free of leprosy.
Then do what the Bible teaches
by offering a gift at the temple,
       so everyone else will know you’re well.”

But the man instead told everyone he met —
so many that Jesus had to stay away from the towns.
       But crowds still flocked to him in the desert.