1 ¶ And it came to pass that on one of those days as he taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, the princes of the priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders

On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

2 a nd spoke unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”

3 A nd he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing, and answer me:

He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

4 T he baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?

the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”

5 A nd they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’

6 B ut and if we say, Of men, all the people will stone us; for they are certain that John was a prophet.

But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

7 A nd they answered that they knew not from where.

They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

8 T hen Jesus said unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

9 ¶ And he began to speak this parable to the people: A certain man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen and went into a far country for a long time.

He began to tell the people this parable. “A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

10 A nd at the season he sent a slave to the husbandmen that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard, but the husbandmen beat him and sent him away empty.

At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.

11 A nd again he sent another slave, and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty.

He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 A nd again he sent a third, and they wounded him also and cast him out.

He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out.

13 T hen said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

14 B ut when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours.

“But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’

15 S o they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

16 H e shall come and destroy these husbandmen and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, May it not be!

He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!”

17 B ut he beheld them and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

But he looked at them, and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?’

18 W hosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”

19 A nd the princes of the priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him, for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them; but they feared the people.

The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

20 ¶ And they watched him and sent forth spies who feigned themselves just men that they might take hold of him as he was speaking, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

21 A nd they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither dost thou accept the person of any, but teachest the way of God with truth;

They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

22 I s it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar or no?

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

23 B ut he, perceiving their craftiness, said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?

24 S how me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

25 A nd he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things which are God’s.

He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 A nd they could not take hold of his words before the people, and they marvelled at his answer and were silent.

They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.

27 ¶ Then certain of the Sadducees came, who deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked him,

Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.

28 s aying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother.

They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.

29 T here were therefore seven brethren, and the first took a wife and died without children.

There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.

30 A nd the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

The second took her as wife, and he died childless.

31 A nd the third took her; and in like manner the seven also, and they left no children and died.

The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.

32 L ast of all the woman died also.

Afterward the woman also died.

33 T herefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be? for seven had her to wife.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

34 A nd Jesus answering said unto them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage.

35 b ut those who are accounted worthy to obtain that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry, nor are given in marriage;

But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.

36 f or neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels and are the sons of God, being the sons of the resurrection.

For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.

37 N ow that the dead are raised, even Moses showed this at the bush when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

38 F or he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him.

Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”

39 ¶ Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.”

40 A nd after that they dared not ask him any question at all.

They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.

41 A nd he said unto them, How do they say that the Christ is David’s son?

He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son?

42 A nd David himself says in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand

David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

43 u ntil I make thine enemies thy footstool.

until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

44 D avid therefore calls him Lord; how is he then his son?

“David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”

45 T hen in the audience of all the people, he said unto his disciples,

In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples,

46 B eware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets and the first seats in the synagogues and the first places at suppers;

“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

47 w ho devour the houses of the widows and for a pretext make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”