Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 When Jesus finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he left that place and went off to teach and preach in the towns near there.
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It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him.
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Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
3 "Tell us," they asked Jesus, "are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?"
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and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"
4 Jesus answered, "Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing:
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Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.
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the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
6 How happy are those who have no doubts about me!"
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Blessed is he, whoever finds no occasion for stumbling in me."
7 While John's disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke about him to the crowds: "When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind?
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As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces!
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But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
9 Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.
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But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
10 For John is the one of whom the scripture says: "God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.'
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For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
11 I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
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Most assuredly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
12 From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it.
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From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 Until the time of John all the prophets and the Law of Moses spoke about the Kingdom;
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For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 and if you are willing to believe their message, John is Elijah, whose coming was predicted.
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If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
15 Listen, then, if you have ears!
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He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 "Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other,
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"But what will I compare this generation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
17 "We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!'
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and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
18 When John came, he fasted and drank no wine, and everyone said, "He has a demon in him!'
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
19 When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, "Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts!' God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results."
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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
20 The people in the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles did not turn from their sins, so he reproached those towns.
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Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they didn't repent.
21 "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins!
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"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to the people of Tyre and Sidon than to you!
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But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
23 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be in existence today!
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You, Capernaum, who are exalted to Heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
24 You can be sure that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to you!"
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But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for you."
25 At that time Jesus said, "Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.
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At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
26 Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.
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Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
27 "My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whoever the Son wants to reveal him.
28 "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
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"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.
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Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am humble and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light."
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For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.