The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Now some people who were there at that time, gave him an account of how the blood of some Galilaeans had been mixed by Pilate with their offerings.
1
At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God.
2 And he, in answer, said to them, Are you of the opinion that these Galilaeans were worse than all other Galilaeans, because these things were done to them?
2
Jesus answered them, "Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
3 I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to the same end.
3
No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.
4 Or those eighteen men who were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all the other men living in Jerusalem?
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What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem?
5 I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to an end in the same way.
5
No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did."
6 And he made up this story for them: A certain man had a fig-tree in his garden, and he came to get fruit from it, and there was no fruit.
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Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.
7 And he said to the gardener, See, for three years I have been looking for fruit from this tree, and I have not had any: let it be cut down; why is it taking up space?
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So he said to his gardener, "Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?'
8 And he said, Lord, let it be for this year, and I will have the earth turned up round it, and put animal waste on it, to make it fertile:
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But the gardener answered, "Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer.
9 And if, after that, it has fruit, it is well; if not, let it be cut down.
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Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.' "
10 And he was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath.
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One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue.
11 And there was a woman who had had a disease for eighteen years; she was bent, and was not able to make herself straight.
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A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he said to her, Woman, you are made free from your disease.
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When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free from your sickness!"
13 And he put his hands on her, and she was made straight, and gave praise to God.
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He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
14 And the ruler of the Synagogue was angry because Jesus had made her well on the Sabbath, and he said to the people, There are six days in which men may do work: so come on those days to be made well, and not on the Sabbath.
14
The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, "There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!"
15 But the Lord gave him an answer and said, O you false men! do you not, every one of you, on the Sabbath, let loose his ox and his ass and take it to the water?
15
The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath.
16 And is it not right for this daughter of Abraham, who has been in the power of Satan for eighteen years, to be made free on the Sabbath?
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Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?"
17 And when he said these things, those who were against him were shamed, and all the people were full of joy because of the great things which were done by him.
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His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.
18 Then he said, What is the kingdom of God like? what comparison may I make of it?
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Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his garden, and it became a tree, and the birds of heaven made their resting-places in its branches.
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It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches."
20 And again he said, What is the kingdom of God like?
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Again Jesus asked, "What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman put into three measures of meal, and it was all leavened.
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It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."
22 And he went on his way, through towns and country places, teaching and journeying to Jerusalem.
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Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people and making his way toward Jerusalem.
23 And someone said to him, Lord, will only a small number have salvation? And he said to them,
23
Someone asked him, "Sir, will just a few people be saved?" Jesus answered them,
24 Do your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do so.
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"Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able.
25 When the master of the house has got up, and the door has been shut, and you, still outside, give blows on the door, saying, Lord, let us in; he will make answer and say, I have no knowledge of where you come from.
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The master of the house will get up and close the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say, "Open the door for us, sir!' he will answer you, "I don't know where you come from!'
26 Then you will say, We have taken food and drink with you, and you were teaching in our streets.
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Then you will answer, "We ate and drank with you; you taught in our town!'
27 But he will say, Truly, I have no knowledge of you or where you come from; go away from me, you workers of evil.
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But he will say again, "I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all you wicked people!'
28 There will be weeping and cries of sorrow when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are shut outside.
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How you will cry and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out!
29 And they will come from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and take their places in the kingdom of God.
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People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God.
30 And the last will be first, and the first will be last.
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Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last."
31 At that time, certain Pharisees came to him and said, Go away from this place, because Herod's purpose is to put you to death.
31
At that same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you."
32 And he said, Go and say to that fox, I send out evil spirits and do works of mercy today and tomorrow, and on the third day my work will be complete.
32
Jesus answered them, "Go and tell that fox: "I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.'
33 But I have to go on my way today and tomorrow and the third day, for it is not right for a prophet to come to his death outside Jerusalem.
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Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who were sent to her! again and again would I have taken your children to myself, as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, but you would not!
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"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!
35 Now see, your house is waste, and I say to you, You will not see me again till you say, A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord.
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And so your Temple will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.