New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
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As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
8 "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!
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If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.
9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
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Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 "This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'
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This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone 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 suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
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From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,and violent people have been raiding it.
13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
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For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.
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And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
15 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children,
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“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
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“ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has 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 came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man 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 came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
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.