New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
12 Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?
12
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
14 One time Jesus was sending out a demon that could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed.
14
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
15 But some of them said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."
15
But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”
16 Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven.
16
Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
17 But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And a family that is divided against itself will not continue.
17
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
18 So if Satan is divided against himself, his kingdom will not continue. You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons.
18
If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
19 But if I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, what power do your people use to force demons out? So they will be your judges.
19
Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
20 But if I use the power of God to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
20
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 "When a strong person with many weapons guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
21
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22 But when someone stronger comes and defeats him, the stronger one will take away the weapons the first man trusted and will give away the possessions.
22
But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
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.