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But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces.
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But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!
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It is this man about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
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I tell you, there is no one greater among [those] born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
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(And all the people, [when they] heard [this]--even the tax collectors--affirmed the righteousness of God, [because they] had been baptized [with] the baptism of John,
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but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.)
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"To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?
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They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say, 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not weep.'
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For John the Baptist has come not eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'
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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a man [who is] a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
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And wisdom is vindicated by all her children."