New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,

3and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—

5The blind see 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.

5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

6And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. ”

7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.

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

9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.

10For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’

11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

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

12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.

14And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.

15He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

16“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

17and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’

17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Judgment for the Unbelievers

20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:

20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

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

22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.

24But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

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

28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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

30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.