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Common English Bible CEB
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,
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When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task,
2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
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saying to them, "Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”
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If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?' say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.'"
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,
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They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.
5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
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Some people standing around said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"
6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
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They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone.
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
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They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it.
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.
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Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields.
9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
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Those in front of him and those following were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
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Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!"
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
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Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
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The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
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From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn't the season for figs.
14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
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So he said to it, "No one will ever again eat your fruit!" His disciples heard this.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,
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They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves.
16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
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He didn't allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.
17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
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He taught them, "Hasn't it been written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you've turned it into a hideout for crooks."
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
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The chief priests and legal experts heard this and tried to find a way to destroy him. They regarded him as dangerous because the whole crowd was enthralled at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
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When it was evening, Jesus and his disciples went outside the city.
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
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Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up.
21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
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Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up."
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
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Jesus responded to them, "Have faith in God!
23 “TrulyI tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
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I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea'—and doesn't waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
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Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you.
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
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And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings."
27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
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Jesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking around the temple, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders came to him.
28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
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They asked, "What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?"
29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
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Jesus said to them, "I have a question for you. Give me an answer, then I'll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.
30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”
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Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."
31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
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They argued among themselves, "If we say, ‘It's of heavenly origin,' he'll say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
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But we can't say, ‘It's of earthly origin.'" They said this because they were afraid of the crowd, because they all thought John was a prophet.
33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
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They answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things."
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible