17
1But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Anykingdomdividedagainstitself is laidwaste; and a house divided againstitselffalls.
18
"If2Satanalso is dividedagainsthimself, how will his kingdomstand? For you say that I cast out demons by 3Beelzebul.
19
"And if I by 4Beelzebulcast out demons, by whom do your sonscast them out? So* they will be your judges.
20
"But if I cast out demons by the 5finger of God, then6the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21
"When a strong man, fullyarmed, guards his ownhouse, his possessions are undisturbed*.
22
"But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takesaway from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.
23
"7He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
24
"8When the uncleanspiritgoes out of a man, it passesthroughwaterlessplacesseekingrest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
25
"And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.
26
"Then it goes and takes along sevenotherspiritsmoreevil than itself, and they go in and livethere; and the last state of that manbecomesworse than the first."
27
While Jesus was sayingthesethings, one of the women in the crowdraised her voice and said to Him, "9Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed."