New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
4 When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
4
John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
5 They argued about this, saying, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
5
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’
6 But if we say, 'It was from other people,' all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet."
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But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they didn't know where it came from.
7
So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”
8 Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things."
8
Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
9 Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
9
He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.
10 When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
10
At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11 Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.
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He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.
12 So the man sent a third servant. The farmers wounded him and threw him out.
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He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 The owner of the vineyard said, 'What will I do now? I will send my son whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'
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“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 But when the farmers saw the son, they said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.'
14
“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.