New American Standard Bible 1995

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

1When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

2Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples

3and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?"

3and asked Him, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

4Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:

4Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:

5the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.

5the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.

6"And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

6And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed."

7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

7As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

8"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!

8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces.

9"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.

10"This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'

10This is the one it is written about: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; he will prepare Your way before You.

11"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

11"I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.

12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.

13"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

13For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John;

14"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

14if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.

15"He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

15Anyone who has ears should listen!

16"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children,

16"To what should I compare this generation? It's like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:

17and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'

17We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't mourn!

18"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!'

18For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, He has a demon!'

19"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

20Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

20Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent:

21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago!

22"Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

23"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.

23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today.

24"Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."

24But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.

26"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

26Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.

27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.

28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

28"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

29All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.