New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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?

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 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in 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 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he 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 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.’

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 “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!

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 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.

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

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

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

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

15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

15Anyone who has ears should listen!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

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, it pleased you to do it this way!

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

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.”

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.

28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, 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. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at 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 to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

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

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.

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