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And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, `What went ye out to the wilderness to view? -- a reed shaken by the wind?
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`But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses.
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`But what went ye out to see? -- a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,
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for this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
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Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.
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`And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,
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for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,
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and if ye are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who was about to come;
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he who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.
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`And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades,
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and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast.