Williams(i)
1 When Jesus had closed this charge to His disciples, He left there to teach and preach in their towns.
2 Now when John in prison heard of the doings of the Christ, he sent this message by his disciples:
3 "Are you the One who was to come, or should we keep on looking for a different one?"
4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind are seeing and the crippled are walking, the lepers are being healed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised and the poor are having the good news preached to them.
6 And happy is the man who finds no cause for stumbling over me."
7 But as they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the desert to gaze at? A reed that is tossed to and fro by the wind?
8 If not, what did you go out there to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? No, people who dress in that way are found in the palaces of kings.
9 If not, why did you go out there? To see a prophet?
10 This is the man of whom the Scripture says, "'Attention! I am sending my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.'
11 "I solemnly say to you, of all men born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has ever appeared; and yet the one who is least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present moment the kingdom of heaven has been continuously taken by storm, and those who take it by storm are seizing it as a precious prize.
13 For up to the days of John all the prophets, and even the law, prophesied about it,
14 and if you are willing to accept it, John himself is the Elijah who was to come.
15 Let him who has ears listen!
16 "But to what can I compare the leaders of this age? They are like little children sitting in the market places and calling to their fellows in the game,
17 "'We played the wedding march for you, but you did not dance. We sang the funeral dirge, but you did not beat your breasts.'
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking with others, and yet they said, 'He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking with others, and they say, 'Just look at Him! A glutton and a wine-drinker, a chum of tax-collectors and notorious sinners!' And yet wisdom is vindicated by her doings!"
20 Then He began to censure the cities in which His many, many wonder-works had been done, because they did not repent.
21 "A curse on you, Chorazin! A curse on you, Bethsaida! For if the wonder-works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, long ago they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
22 Moreover, I tell you, on the day of judgment the punishment will be lighter for Tyre and Sidon than for you!
23 And you, Capernaum, are you to be exalted to heaven? No, you belong to the regions of the dead! For if the wonder-works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued until today.
24 But I tell you, on the day of judgment the punishment will be lighter for the land of Sodom than for you!"
25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for concealing these matters from wise and learned men, and for revealing them to little children.
26 Yes, Father, I thank You that Your good pleasure made it so.
27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father, and no one but the Father perfectly knows the Son, and no one but the Son perfectly knows the Father, and the one to whom the Son chooses to make Him known.
28 Come to me, all of you who toil and carry burdens, and I, yes, I, will lead you into rest.
29 Put on my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,
30 for the yoke I offer is easy to wear, and the load I ask is light to bear