New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
14 And if you will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah, whom they said would come.
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And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
15 You people who can hear me, listen!
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Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 "What can I say about the people of this time? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to each other,
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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 played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'
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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 and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, 'He has a demon.'
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19 The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved to be right by what it does."
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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 Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles, because the people did not change their lives and stop sinning.
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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 He said, "How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the same miracles I did in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show they had changed.
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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 But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon 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, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to the depths. If the miracles I did in you had happened in Sodom, its people would have stopped sinning, and it would still be a city today.
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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 tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for you."
24
But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
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.