English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
49 "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
49
"I've come to start a fire on this earth - how I wish it were blazing right now!
50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!
50
I've come to change everything, turn everything rightside up - how I long for it to be finished!
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
51
Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront!
52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.
52
From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be - Three against two, and two against three;
53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
53
Father against son, and son against father; Mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; Mother-in-law against bride, and bride against mother-in-law."
54 He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens.
54
Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, 'Storm's coming' - and you're right.
55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens.
55
And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, 'This'll be a hot one' - and you're right.
56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
56
Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now.
57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
57
"You don't have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense,
58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.
58
the kind you'd use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to the judge you'd probably go to jail
59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."
59
and pay every last penny of the fine. That's the kind of decision I'm asking you to make."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.