Moffatt(i)
7 As the disciples of John went away, Jesus proceeded to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
8 Come, what did you go out to see? A man arrayed in soft raiment? The wearers of soft raiment are in royal palaces.
9 Come, why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
10 This is he of whom it is written, Here I send my messenger before your face to prepare the way for you.
11 I tell you truly, no one has arisen among the sons of women who is greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the Realm of heaven is greater than he is.
12 From the days of John the Baptist till now the Realm of heaven suffers violence, and the violent press into it.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied of it until John: —
14 if you care to believe it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
15 He who has an ear, let him listen to this.
16 But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, who call to their playmates,
17 'We piped to you and you would not dance, we lamented and you would not beat your breasts.'
18 For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and men say, 'He has a devil';
19 the Son of man has come eating and drinking, and men say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of taxgatherers and sinners!' Nevertheless, Wisdom is vindicated by all that she does."