English Standard Version ESV
Common English Bible CEB
1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
1
When Jesus finished teaching his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
2
Now when John heard in prison about the things the Christ was doing, he sent word by his disciples to Jesus, asking,
3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? ”
3
"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
4
Jesus responded, "Go, report to John what you hear and see.
5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
5
Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled are walking. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. The poor have good news proclaimed to them.
6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. ”
6
Happy are those who don't stumble and fall because of me."
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
7
When John's disciples had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
8
What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who wear refined clothes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
9
What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. ’
10
He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I'm sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
11
“I assure you that no one who has ever been born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is violently attacked as violent people seize it.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
13
All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came.
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
14
If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
15
Let the person who has ears, hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
16
"To what will I compare this generation? It is like a child sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. ’
17
‘We played the flute for you and you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn't mourn.'
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon. ’
18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. ”
19
Yet the Human One came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved to be right by her works."
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
20
Then he began to scold the cities where he had done his greatest miracles because they didn't change their hearts and lives.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
21
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives and put on funeral clothes and ashes a long time ago.
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
22
But I say to you that Tyre and Sidon will be better off on Judgment Day than you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
23
And you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to the place of the dead. After all, if the miracles that were done among you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today.
24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. ”
24
But I say to you that it will be better for the land of Sodom on the Judgment Day than it will be for you."
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
25
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you've hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have shown them to babies.
26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
26
Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness.
27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
27
“My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. And nobody knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
28
"Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
29
Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I'm gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ”
30
My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible