The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
14 Looked at in this way, John is the 'Elijah' you've all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.
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And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
15 "Are you listening to me? Really listening?
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Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 "How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents,
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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 wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.'
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“ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 John came fasting and they called him crazy.
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19 I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riff-raff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
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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 Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way.
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Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
21 "Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute.
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“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 At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you.
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But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around.
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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 At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you."
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But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. 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.