International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns. | 1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. |
2Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples | 2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, |
3and asked him, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?" | 3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” |
4Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and observe: | 4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— |
5the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. | 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” |
6How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!" | 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of 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 John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of 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 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. |
9Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! | 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he 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 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he 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 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! |
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 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. |
13because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John. | 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. |
14If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. | 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. |
15Let the person who has ears listen! | 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! |
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 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, |
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.' | 17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’ |
18Because John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people say, 'He has a demon!' | 18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by 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, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Judgment for the Unbelievers |
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn't repent. | 20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. |
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 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. |
22Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you! | 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than 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 people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. |
24Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you!" | 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving |
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 prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. |
26Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. | 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! |
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 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
28"Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. | 28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, 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. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at 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 to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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