1 A nd it came to pass, when Jesus ended directing his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

When Jesus finished telling His twelve followers what to do, He went away from there to teach and preach in their towns.

2 A nd John having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples,

When John the Baptist was in prison, he heard what Jesus was doing. He sent his followers.

3 s aid to him, `Art thou He who is coming, or for another do we look?'

They asked, “Are You the One Who was to come, or should we look for another?”

4 A nd Jesus answering said to them, `Having gone, declare to John the things that ye hear and see,

Jesus said to them, “Go and tell John what you see and hear.

5 b lind receive sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and poor have good news proclaimed,

The blind are made to see. Those who could not walk are walking. Those who have had bad skin diseases are healed. Those who could not hear are hearing. The dead are raised up to life and the Good News is preached to poor people.

6 a nd happy is he who may not be stumbled in me.'

He is happy who is not ashamed of Me and does not turn away because of Me.” Jesus Tells about John the Baptist

7 A nd as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, `What went ye out to the wilderness to view? -- a reed shaken by the wind?

As the followers of John the Baptist went away, Jesus began to tell the people about John. He said, “What did you go out to see in the desert? A small tree shaking in the wind?

8 ` But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses.

But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in good clothes? Those who are dressed in good clothes are in the houses of kings.

9 ` But what went ye out to see? -- a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,

What did you go out to see? One who speaks for God? Yes, I tell you, he is more than one who speaks for God.

10 f or this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

This is the man the Holy Writings spoke of when they said, ‘See! I will send My helper to carry news ahead of You. He will make Your way ready for You!’

11 V erily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.

For sure, I tell you, of those born of women, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. The least in the holy nation of heaven is greater than he.

12 ` And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the holy nation of heaven has suffered very much. Fighting men try to take it.

13 f or all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,

All the early preachers and the Law told about it until the time of John.

14 a nd if ye are willing to receive, he is Elijah who was about to come;

And if you will believe it, he is Elijah who was to come.

15 h e who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.

You have ears, then listen! Jesus Speaks Against Cities in Galilee

16 ` And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades,

“What are the people of this day like? They are like children playing in the center of town where people gather. They call to their friends.

17 a nd saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast.

They say, ‘We played music for you, but you did not dance. We showed sorrow in front of you, but you did not show sorrow.’

18 ` For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon;

John came and did not eat or drink. They said, ‘He has a demon.’

19 t he Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners, and wisdom was justified of her children.'

Then the Son of Man came and ate and drank. They said, ‘See! He eats too much and likes wine. He is a friend of men who gather taxes and of sinners!’ But wisdom shows itself to be right by what it does.”

20 T hen began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform.

Then He began to say strong words against the cities where most of His powerful works were done. He spoke to them because they were not sorry for their sins and did not turn from them.

21 ` Wo to thee, Chorazin! wo to thee, Bethsaida! because, if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago in sackcloth and ashes they had reformed;

“It is bad for you, city of Chorazin! It is bad for you, town of Bethsaida! For if the powerful works which were done in you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned from their sins long ago. They would have shown their sorrow by putting on clothes made from hair and would have sat in ashes.

22 b ut I say to you, to Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than for you.

I tell you, it will be better for Tyre and Sidon on the day men stand before God and are told they are guilty, than for you.

23 ` And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades shalt be brought down, because if in Sodom had been done the mighty works that were done in thee, it had remained unto this day;

“And Capernaum, are you to be lifted up into heaven? You will be taken down to hell. If the powerful works which were done in you had been done in the city of Sodom, it would be here to this day.

24 b ut I say to you, to the land of Sodom it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than to thee.'

But I say to you that it will be better for the land of Sodom on the day men stand before God and are told they are guilty, than for you.” Jesus Prays to His Father

25 A t that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.

At that time Jesus said, “Thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You hid these things from the wise and from those who have much learning. You have shown them to little children.

26 Y es, Father, because so it was good pleasure before Thee.

Yes, Father, it was good in Your sight.

27 ` All things were delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father, nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal.

“Everything has been given to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son but the Father. No one knows the Father but the Son, and those to whom the Son wants to make the Father known. Jesus Calls People to Follow Him

28 ` Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest,

“Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.

29 t ake up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,

Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls.

30 f or my yoke easy, and my burden is light.'

For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.”