International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns.

1When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples

2Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

3and asked him, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?"

3and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?"

4Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and observe:

4Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:

5the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news.

5the 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.

6How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!"

6"And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

7As they were leaving, 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?

7As 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?

8Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings' houses.

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

9Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!

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

10This is the man about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

10"This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'

11I tell all of you with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from heaven is greater than he.

11"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"From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it,

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

13because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John.

13"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

14If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

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

15Let the person who has ears listen!

15"He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16"To what can I compare the people living today? They're like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,

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

17A wedding song we played for you, the dance you all did scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.'

17and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'

18Because John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people say, 'He has a demon!'

18"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!'

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Absolved from every act of sin, is wisdom by her kith and kin."

19"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."

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn't repent.

20Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

21"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

21"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.

22Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you!

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

23"And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

23"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.

24Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you!"

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

25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants.

25At 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.

26Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.

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

27All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

27"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"Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.

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

29Place my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls,

29"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.

30because my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light."

30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org