Matthew 11
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
After Jesus had finished giving directions to his twelve Disciples, he left that place in order to teach and preach in their towns.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
and asked – “Are you ‘the coming one,’ or are we to look for someone else?”
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
The answer of Jesus to the question was – “Go and report to John what you hear and see –
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
the blind recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the good news is told to the poor.
6 And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Blessed is the person who finds no hindrance in me.”
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
While John’s disciples were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John,
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft [clothing] are in kings’ houses.
“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings!
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
What, then, did you go for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
10 For this is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
This is the man of whom scripture says – ‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the kingdom of heaven has been taken by force, and people using force have been seizing it.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
For the teaching of all the prophets and of the Law continued until the time of John;
14 And if ye will receive [it], this is Elias, which was for to come.
and – if you are ready to accept it – John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
If you have ears, listen.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
But to what will I compare the present generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-places and calling out to their playmates –
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not mourned.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
For, when John came, neither eating nor drinking, people said ‘He has a demon in him’;
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
and now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, they are saying ‘Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and outcasts!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented,
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
“Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Hadēs g86)
And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day. (Hadēs g86)
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Yet, I tell you, the doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.”
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
At that same time Jesus uttered the words, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike!
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Yes, Father, I thank you that this has seemed good to you.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him.]
Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone fully know the Son, except the Father, or fully know the Father, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come to me, all you who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest!
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls;
30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
