New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
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Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
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Jesus told them, "When you pray, say: ‘Father, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
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Give us the bread we need for today.
4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
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Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us. And don't lead us into temptation.'"
5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;
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He also said to them, “Imagine that one of you has a friend and you go to that friend in the middle of the night. Imagine saying, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread
6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'
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because a friend of mine on a journey has arrived and I have nothing to set before him.'
7 And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'
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Imagine further that he answers from within the house, ‘Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
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I assure you, even if he wouldn't get up and help because of his friendship, he will get up and give his friend whatever he needs because of his friend's brashness.
9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
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And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
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Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.
11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
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"Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish?
12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
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If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
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If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed.
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Jesus was throwing out a demon that causes muteness. When the demon was gone, the man who couldn't speak began to talk. The crowds were amazed.
15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."
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But some of them said, "He throws out demons with the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons."
16 Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.
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Others were testing him, seeking a sign from heaven.
17 But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house.
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Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland, and a house torn apart by divisions will collapse.
18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.
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If Satan is at war with himself, how will his kingdom endure? I ask this because you say that I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul.
19 Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
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If I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.
20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
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But if I throw out demons by the power of God, then God's kingdom has already overtaken you.
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.
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When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are secure.
22 But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.
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But as soon as a stronger one attacks and overpowers him, the stronger one takes away the armor he had trusted and divides the stolen goods.
23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
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"Whoever isn't with me is against me, and whoever doesn't gather with me, scatters.
24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, "I will return to my house from which I came.'
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When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find any. Then it says, ‘I'll go back to the house I left.'
25 When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.
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When it arrives, it finds the house cleaned up and decorated.
26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first."
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Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning."
27 While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!"
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While Jesus was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd spoke up: "Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and who nursed you."
28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!"
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But he said, "Happy rather are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
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When the crowds grew, Jesus said, “This generation is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except Jonah's sign.
30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.
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Just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Human One will be a sign to this generation.
31 The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
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The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here.
32 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
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The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah's preaching—and one greater than Jonah is here.
33 "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.
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"People don't light a lamp and then put it in a closet or under a basket. Rather, they place the lamp on a lampstand so that those who enter the house can see the light.
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.
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Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is full of darkness.
35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness.
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Therefore, see to it that the light in you isn't darkness.
36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."
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If your whole body is full of light—with no part darkened—then it will be as full of light as when a lamp shines brightly on you."
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table.
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While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to share a meal with him, so Jesus went and took his place at the table.
38 The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner.
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When the Pharisee saw that Jesus didn't ritually purify his hands by washing before the meal, he was astonished.
39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
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The Lord said to him, “Now, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and platter, but your insides are stuffed with greed and wickedness.
40 You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
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Foolish people! Didn't the one who made the outside also make the inside?
41 So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.
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Therefore, give to those in need from the core of who you are and you will be clean all over.
42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.
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“How terrible for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and garden herbs of all kinds, while neglecting justice and love for God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.
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“How terrible for you Pharisees! You love the most prominent seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it."
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"How terrible for you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk on them without recognizing it."
45 One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too."
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One of the legal experts responded, "Teacher, when you say these things, you are insulting us too."
46 And he said, "Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.
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Jesus said, “How terrible for you legal experts too! You load people down with impossible burdens and you refuse to lift a single finger to help them.
47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.
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“How terrible for you! You built memorials to the prophets, whom your ancestors killed.
48 So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs.
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In this way, you testify that you approve of your ancestors' deeds. They killed the prophets, and you build memorials!
49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'
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Therefore, God's wisdom has said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them and they will harass and kill some of them.'
50 so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world,
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As a result, this generation will be charged with the murder of all the prophets since the beginning of time.
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation.
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This includes the murder of every prophet—from Abel to Zechariah—who was killed between the altar and the holy place. Yes, I'm telling you, this generation will be charged with it.
52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."
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"How terrible for you legal experts! You snatched away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter yourselves, and you stood in the way of those who were entering."
53 When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things,
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As he left there, the legal experts and Pharisees began to resent him deeply and to ask him pointed questions about many things.
54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
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They plotted against him, trying to trap him in his words.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible