1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished giving commandments to his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

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

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

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

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

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

4 J esus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John those things which you hear and see:

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

5 T he 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.

The 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.

6 A nd blessed is he who is not offended in me.

And 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.

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

Then 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?

8 B ut what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

What 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.

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

But 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.

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

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

11 V erily I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

Truly 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.

12 F rom the days of John the Baptist until now, life is given unto the kingdom of the heavens, and the valiant take hold of it.

And 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].

13 F or all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.

14 A nd if ye will receive it, this is that Elijah who was to come.

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

15 H e that has ears to hear, let him hear.

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

16 ¶ But unto whom shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets and shouting unto their fellows

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

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

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

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

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

The 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.

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

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

21 W oe 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.

Woe 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.

22 B ut I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.

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

23 A nd thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to Hades, for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in those of Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

And 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.

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

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

25 ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I praise thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and understanding and hast revealed them unto children.

At 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].

26 E ven so, Father, for thus it was pleasing in thy sight.

Yes, Father, such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.

27 A ll things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no one has known the Son but the Father, neither has anyone known the Father except the Son and he unto whom the Son will reveal him.

All 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.

28 C ome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Come 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.]

29 T ake my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

Take 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.

30 F or my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

For 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.