141And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mutemanspoke; and the crowds were amazed.
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But some of them said, "He casts out demons2by 3Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."
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Others, to test Him, 4were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.
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5But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Anykingdomdividedagainstitself is laidwaste; and a house divided againstitselffalls.
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"If6Satanalso is dividedagainsthimself, how will his kingdomstand? For you say that I cast out demons by 7Beelzebul.
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"And if I by 8Beelzebulcast out demons, by whom do your sonscast them out? So* they will be your judges.
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"But if I cast out demons by the 9finger of God, then10the kingdom of God has come upon you.
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"When a strong man, fullyarmed, guards his ownhouse, his possessions are undisturbed*.
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"But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takesaway from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.
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"11He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
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"12When the uncleanspiritgoes out of a man, it passesthroughwaterlessplacesseekingrest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
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"And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.
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"Then it goes and takes along sevenotherspiritsmoreevil than itself, and they go in and livethere; and the last state of that manbecomesworse than the first."
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While Jesus was sayingthesethings, one of the women in the crowdraised her voice and said to Him, "13Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed."
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But He said, "On the contrary*, blessed are 14those who hear the word of God and observe it."