Matthew 11
1 And it was doon, whanne Jhesus hadde endid, he comaundide to hise twelue disciplis, and passide fro thennus to teche and preche in the citees of hem.
When Jesus had finished instructing [us] twelve disciples [about what we should do, he sent us to various Israelite towns]. Then he went to teach and preach in [other Israelite] towns [in that area].
2 But whanne Joon in boondis hadde herd the werkis of Crist, he sente tweyne of hise disciplis,
While John [the Baptizer] was in prison, he heard what [Jesus, the man whom he thought was] the Messiah, was doing. So he sent [some of] his disciples [to him] in order
3 and seide to him, `Art thou he that schal come, or we abiden another?
to ask him, “Are you the [Messiah] who [the prophets prophesied] would come, or is it someone else that we should expect [to come]?”
4 And Jhesus answeride, and seide `to hem, Go ye, and telle ayen to Joon tho thingis that ye han herd and seyn.
[After they asked] Jesus [that question], he answered them, “Go back and report to John what you hear [me telling people] and what you see [me doing].
5 Blynde men seen, crokid men goon, meselis ben maad clene, deefe men heren, deed men rysen ayen, pore men ben takun to `prechyng of the gospel.
I [am enabling] blind people to see and lame people to walk. I [am] healing [people] who have leprosy. I [am enabling] deaf people to hear and dead people to become alive again. I [am] telling poor people [God’s] good message.
6 And he is blessid, that shal not be sclaundrid in me.
[Also tell John that God] is pleased with people who do not stop believing in me [because what I do is not what they expected the Messiah to do].”
7 And whanne thei weren goon awei, Jhesus bigan to seie of Joon to the puple, What thing wenten ye out in to desert to se? a reed wawed with the wynd?
When John’s disciples had gone away, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said to them, “[Think about] what sort of person you went to see in the desolate area [when you went there to see John]. ([You did not go there to listen to a man who constantly changed his message, like] a reed that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [MET]!/Did you go there [to listen to a man whose message changes continually like] long grass that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [changes its direction]?) [MET, RHQ]
8 Or what thing wenten ye out to see? a man clothid with softe clothis? Lo! thei that ben clothid with softe clothis ben in the housis of kyngis.
Then what [kind of person] did you go [there] to see [RHQ]? ([You did not go there to see] a man who was wearing expensive clothes.[/Did you go there to see] a man who was wearing expensive clothes?) [RHQ] [No! You know very well that] people who wear beautiful clothes reside in kings’ palaces [and not in desolate areas].
9 But what thing wenten ye out to se? a prophete? Yhe, Y seie to you, and more than a prophete.
Then what [kind of person] did you go to see [RHQ]? [Did you go there] [RHQ] [to see John because he was] (a prophet/a person who speaks what God tells him to say)? Yes! But I will tell you that [John] is more [important] than an [ordinary] prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is writun, Lo! Y sende myn aungel bifor thi face, that shal make redi thi weye bifor thee.
He is the one [to whom God was referring when he said to the Messiah these words] that are written {about whom [the prophet Malachi] wrote} [in the Scriptures: ] Listen! I am going to send my messenger [to go] before you [SYN] to prepare [the people] [MET] for your coming.
11 Treuli Y seie to you, ther roos noon more than Joon Baptist among the children of wymmen; but he that is lesse in the kyngdom of heuenes, is more than he.
Note this: Of all the people who have ever lived, [God does not consider] that any of them are greater than John the Baptizer. However, [God considers that all] those people who have let God rule their lives are greater than [John, even if they are insignificant people].
12 And fro the daies of Joon Baptist til now the kyngdom of heuenes suffrith violence, and violent men rauyschen it.
From the time that John the Baptizer [preached] until now, [other people] have violently attacked the people who have [allowed] God [MTY/EUP] to rule their lives, and they have suffered (OR, people have very eagerly been asking God to take control of their lives, OR, Israelite people [who have thought that I would become their king] have been extremely eager to be included in my kingdom) (OR, have been violently attacked and made to suffer).
13 For alle prophetis and the lawe `til to Joon prophecieden; and if ye wolen resseyue,
[All this that I am saying about John is confirmed by the fact that] all the men who wrote the Scriptures [MTY, SYN] foretold [about God ruling people’s lives], until John [the Baptizer came].
14 he is Elie that is to come.
[Even though most of you are unwilling to believe what I am saying, I will tell this truth to] anyone who is willing to believe [it]: John is [the man who is like] Elijah [MET]. He is the one who [one of the prophets said] would come [in order to prepare the people to welcome the Messiah].
15 He that hath eris of heryng, here he.
If you want to understand this, you must think [carefully] [MTY] [about what I have just said] [MTY].”
16 But to whom schal Y gesse this generacioun lijk? It is lijk to children sittynge in chepyng, that crien to her peeris,
“(I will illustrate what [you] people who have heard what John [the Baptizer] and I have taught are like./Do you know what [you] people who have heard what John and I have taught are like?) [RHQ] You are like children who are [playing games] in an open area. [Some of the children] are calling to the others, saying,
17 and seien, We han songun to you, and ye han not daunsid; we han morned to you, and ye han not weilid.
‘We played [happy music] on the flute for you, but you did not dance! Then we sang sad funeral songs for you, but you did not cry [MET]!’
18 For Joon cam nether etynge ne drynkynge, and thei seien, He hath a deuel.
[Similarly, you are dissatisfied with both John and me]! When John came [and preached to you], he did not eat [good food] and did not drink [wine, like most people do]. But you [rejected him] saying, ‘A demon is controlling him!’
19 The sone of man cam etynge and drynkynge, and thei seien, Lo! a man a glotoun, and a drinkere of wijne, and a freend of pupplicans and of synful men. And wisdom is iustified of her sones.
[In contrast], [I], the one who came from heaven, eat [the same] food and drink [wine as other people do]. But you [reject me], saying, ‘Look! [This man] eats too much food and drinks too much wine, and he associates with tax collectors and [other] sinners!’ But people [who really think about] what [John] and I have done will realize that what we do is truly wise [MET, PRS].”
20 Thanne Jhesus bigan to seye repreef to citees, in whiche ful manye vertues of him weren doon, for thei diden not penaunce.
[The people who lived in] the towns [MTY] [in the area where Jesus was saw him] perform many miracles. But they did not turn away from their sinful behavior. So Jesus began to reproach them [by saying to them],
21 Wo to thee! Corosaym, woo to thee! Bethsaida; for if the vertues that ben doon in you hadden be doon in Tyre and Sidon, sumtyme thei hadden don penaunce in heyre and aische.
“You [people who live in] Chorazin [city] [MTY] and you [people who live in] Bethsaida [city] [MTY] will suffer terribly in hell! [I] did great miracles in your [cities, but you did not turn from your sinful behavior]. If the miracles that I performed in your [cities] had been done in [the ancient cities of] Tyre and Sidon, the [wicked people who lived there] long ago would have sat in ashes, wearing coarse cloth [to show that they were sorry for their sins]. (questioned)
22 Netheles Y seie to you, it schal be lesse peyne to Tire and Sidon in the dai of doom, than to you.
So note this: [God will punish the wicked people who lived in the cities of] Tyre and Sidon [MTY], but he will punish you even more severely on the final day when he judges [all people].
23 And thou, Cafarnaum, whethir thou schalt be arerid vp in to heuene? Thou shalt go doun in to helle. For if the vertues that ben don in thee, hadden be don in Sodom, perauenture thei schulden haue dwellid `in to this dai. (Hadēs g86)
[also have something to say to] you [people who live in] Capernaum [city] [MTY]. (Do not [think that] you will be honored {that [God] will honor you} in heaven!/Do you think that you will be honored {that [God] will honor you} in heaven?) [RHQ] [That will not happen! On the contrary, after you die, you will be sent] {[God] will send you} down into the place where [sinful people] will be punished {he will punish sinful people} [forever. God destroyed the ancient city of] Sodom [because the people who lived in that city were extremely wicked]. If I had performed in [Sodom the miracles that I performed in your city, the people there would have turned away from their wicked behavior and] their [city] [MET] would still exist now [MTY]. But you, [although I did miracles in your city, you did not turn from your wicked behavior]. (Hadēs g86)
24 Netheles Y seie to you, that to the lond of Sodom it schal be `lesse peyne in the dai of doom, than to thee.
So note this: [God] will punish [the people who lived in] Sodom [city] [MTY], but he will punish you [even] more severely on the final day when [he] judges [all people].”
25 In thilke tyme Jhesus answeride, and seide, Y knowleche to thee, fadir, lord of heuene and of erthe, for thou hast hid these thingis fro wijse men, and redi, and hast schewid hem to litle children;
At that time Jesus prayed, “Father, you rule over [everything in] heaven and [on] the earth. I thank you that you have prevented [people who think that they] are wise [IRO] because they are well-educated, from [knowing] these things. [Instead], you have revealed them to [people who accept your truth as readily as] little children [MET] [do].
26 so, fadir, for so it was plesynge tofore thee.
Yes, Father, [you have done that] because it seemed good to you [to do] so.”
27 Alle thingis ben youune to me of my fadir; and no man knewe the sone, but the fadir, nethir ony man knewe the fadir, but the sone, and to whom the sone wolde schewe.
[Then Jesus said to the people there who wanted him to teach them], “[God], my Father, has revealed to me all the things [that I need to know in order to do my work]. Only my Father knows [who] I [really am]. Furthermore, only I and those [people] to whom I wish to reveal him know [what God] my Father [is like].
28 Alle ye that traueilen, and ben chargid, come to me, and Y schal fulfille you.
Come to me, all you people who are very weary [of trying to obey all the many laws that your religious teachers tell you to obey] [MET]. I will enable you to quit [trying to obey all those laws].
29 Take ye my yok on you, and lerne ye of me, for Y am mylde and meke in herte; and ye schulen fynde reste to youre soulis.
Let me [help] you [carry those loads, just like two oxen who have] a yoke [on their necks] [MET, DOU] [help each other pull a heavy load]. It will not be difficult for you to do the things that I ask you to do for me [DOU]. Because I am gentle and humble [DOU], accept what I teach [about what God wants you to do]. [And as a result, you will quit worrying about obeying all the religious laws, and] your spirits will be at peace.”
30 `For my yok is softe, and my charge liyt.
