New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
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And it came about that when Jesus had come to the end of giving these orders to his twelve disciples, he went away from there, teaching and preaching in their towns.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples
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Now when John had news in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples
3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
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To say to him, Are you he who is to come, or are we waiting for another?
4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
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And Jesus, answering, said to them, Go and give news to John of the things which you are seeing and hearing:
5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.
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The blind see; those who were not able to, are walking; lepers are made clean; those who were without hearing, now have their ears open; the dead come to life again, and the poor have the good news given to them.
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
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And a blessing will be on him who has no doubts about me.
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
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And when they were going away, Jesus, talking of John, said to all the people, What went you out into the waste land to see? a tall stem moving in the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
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But what went you out to see? a man delicately clothed? Those who have fair robes are in kings' houses.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
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But why did you go out? to see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
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This is he of whom it has been said, See, I send my servant before your face, who will make ready your way before you.
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Truly I say to you, Among the sons of women there has not been a greater than John the Baptist: but he who 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.
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And from the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom of heaven is forcing its way in, and men of force take it.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came;
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For all the prophets and the law were in force till John.
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
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And if you are able to see it, this is Elijah who was to come.
15 Let anyone with ears listen!
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He who has ears, let him give ear.
16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
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But what comparison may I make of this generation? It is like children seated in the market-places, crying out to one another,
17 "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
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We made music for you and you did not take part in the dance; we gave cries of sorrow and you made no signs of grief.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon';
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For John came, taking no food or drink, and they say, He has an evil spirit.
19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
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The Son of man has come feasting, and they say, See, a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners! And wisdom is judged to be right by her works.
20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent.
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Then he went on to say hard things to the towns where most of his works of power were done, because they had not been turned from their sins.
21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
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Unhappy are you, Chorazin! Unhappy are you, Beth-saida! For if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been turned from their sins in days gone by, clothing themselves in haircloth and putting dust on their heads.
22 But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
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But I say to you, It will be better for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judging, than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
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And you, Capernaum, were you not to be lifted up to heaven? you will go down into hell: for if the works of power which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been here to this day.
24 But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you."
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But I say to you that it will be better for the land of Sodom in the day of judging, than for you.
25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants;
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At that time Jesus made answer and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children.
26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
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Yes, Father, for so it was pleasing in your eyes.
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.
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All things have been given to me by my Father; and no one has knowledge of the Son, but the Father; and no one has knowledge of the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will make it clear.
28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
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Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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Take my yoke on you and become like me, for I am gentle and without pride, and you will have rest for your souls;
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
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For my yoke is good, and the weight I take up is not hard.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.