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and blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in me.
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And the messengers of John having departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind?
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But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate garments? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and live luxuriously are in the courts of kings.
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But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and [what is] more excellent than a prophet.
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This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold, *I* send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee;
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for I say unto you, Among them that are born of women a greater [prophet] is no one than John [the baptist]; but he who is a little one in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
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(And all the people who heard [it], and the tax-gatherers, justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John;
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but the Pharisees and the lawyers rendered null as to themselves the counsel of God, not having been baptised by him.)
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To whom therefore shall I liken the men of this generation, and to whom are they like?
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They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
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For John the baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He has a demon.