1 W hen Jesus had finished His charge to His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to preach in their cities.

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

2 N ow when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples

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

3 A nd asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one?

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

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

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

5 T he blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them.

the 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.

6 A nd blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.

And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” Jesus’ Tribute to John

7 T hen as these men went their way, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out in the wilderness (desert) to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

As 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?

8 W hat did you go out to see then? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings.

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

9 B ut what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one '> out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable, and] superior to a prophet.

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

10 T his is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You.

This is the one about whom it is written, ‘ Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 T ruly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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.

12 A nd from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force '> share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

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

13 F or all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.

For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

14 A nd if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

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

15 H e who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 B ut to what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the marketplaces who call to their playmates,

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

17 W e piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed dirges, and you did not mourn and beat your breasts and weep aloud.

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

18 F or John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon!

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

19 T he Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and '> especially wicked] sinners! Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her deeds) and by her children.

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.” The Unrepenting Cities

20 T hen He began to censure and reproach the cities in which most of His mighty works had been performed, because they did not repent.

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

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

“ 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.

22 I tell you, it shall be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

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

23 A nd you, Capernaum, are you to be lifted up to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued until today.

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.

24 B ut I tell you, it shall be more endurable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.

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

25 A t that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth '> I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies '> childish, untaught, and unskilled].

At 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.

26 Y es, Father, such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.

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

27 A ll things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known.

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.

28 C ome to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. '> ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

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

29 T ake My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ( relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

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.

30 F or My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

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