New Living Translation

King James Bible

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

1And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

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

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

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

3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

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

4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do 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 receive their 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.

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

6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

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?

7And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

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

8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

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

9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and 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.’

10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

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!

11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is 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.

12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take 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.

14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

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

17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

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

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

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, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

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 began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

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.

21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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.

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

22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at 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 thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

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

24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

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 answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

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

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

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 are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

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

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 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.

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.