New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.
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When Jesus finished teaching his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,
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Now when John heard in prison about the things the Christ was doing, he sent word by his disciples to Jesus, asking,
3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
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"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—
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Jesus responded, "Go, report to John what you hear and see.
5 the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
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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 tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me. ’”
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Happy are those who don't stumble and fall because of me."
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
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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 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.
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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 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
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What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
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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 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!
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“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 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
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From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is violently attacked as violent people seize it.
13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.
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All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came.
14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.
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If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
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Let the person who has ears, hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
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"To what will I compare this generation? It is like a child sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others,
17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’
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‘We played the flute for you and you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn't mourn.'
18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
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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 Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.
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Then he began to scold the cities where he had done his greatest miracles because they didn't change their hearts and lives.
21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.
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"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 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
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But I say to you that Tyre and Sidon will be better off on Judgment Day than you.
23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.
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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 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”
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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 prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
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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, it pleased you to do it this way!
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Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness.
27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
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“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 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
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"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. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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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 to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light."