The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
14 And if you are able to see it, this is Elijah who was to come.
14
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
15 He who has ears, let him give ear.
15
Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 But what comparison may I make of this generation? It is like children seated in the market-places, crying out to one another,
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“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 We made music for you and you did not take part in the dance; we gave cries of sorrow and you made no signs of grief.
17
“ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came, taking no food or drink, and they say, He has an evil spirit.
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19 The Son of man has come feasting, and they say, See, a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners! And wisdom is judged to be right by her works.
19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
20 Then he went on to say hard things to the towns where most of his works of power were done, because they had not been turned from their sins.
20
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
21 Unhappy are you, Chorazin! Unhappy are you, Beth-saida! For if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been turned from their sins in days gone by, clothing themselves in haircloth and putting dust on their heads.
21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say to you, It will be better for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judging, than for you.
22
But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, were you not to be lifted up to heaven? you will go down into hell: for if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been here to this day.
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And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
24 But I say to you that it will be better for the land of Sodom in the day of judging, than for you.
24
But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
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.