Matteo 11
1 Quando Gesù ebbe terminato di dare queste istruzioni ai suoi dodici discepoli, partì di là per insegnare e predicare nelle loro città.
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 Giovanni intanto, che era in carcere, avendo sentito parlare delle opere del Cristo, mandò a dirgli per mezzo dei suoi discepoli:
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 «Sei tu colui che deve venire o dobbiamo attenderne un altro?».
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 Gesù rispose: «Andate e riferite a Giovanni ciò che voi udite e vedete:
[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 I ciechi ricuperano la vista, gli storpi camminano, i lebbrosi sono guariti, i sordi riacquistano l'udito, i morti risuscitano, ai poveri è predicata la buona novella,
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 e beato colui che non si scandalizza di 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 Mentre questi se ne andavano, Gesù si mise a parlare di Giovanni alle folle: «Che cosa siete andati a vedere nel deserto? Una canna sbattuta dal vento?
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 Che cosa dunque siete andati a vedere? Un uomo avvolto in morbide vesti? Coloro che portano morbide vesti stanno nei palazzi dei re!
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 E allora, che cosa siete andati a vedere? Un profeta? Sì, vi dico, anche più di un profeta.
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 Ecco, io mando davanti a te il mio messaggero che preparerà la tua via davanti a te. Egli è colui, del quale sta scritto:
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 In verità vi dico: tra i nati di donna non è sorto uno più grande di Giovanni il Battista; tuttavia il più piccolo nel regno dei cieli è più grande di lui.
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 Dai giorni di Giovanni il Battista fino ad ora, il regno dei cieli soffre violenza e i violenti se ne impadroniscono.
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 La Legge e tutti i Profeti infatti hanno profetato fino a Giovanni.
[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 E se lo volete accettare, egli è quell'Elia che deve venire.
[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 Chi ha orecchi intenda.
If you want to understand this, you must think [carefully] [MTY] [about what I have just said] [MTY].”
16 Ma a chi paragonerò io questa generazione? Essa è simile a quei fanciulli seduti sulle piazze che si rivolgono agli altri compagni e dicono:
“(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 Vi abbiamo suonato il flauto e non avete ballato, abbiamo cantato un lamento e non avete pianto.
‘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 E' venuto Giovanni, che non mangia e non beve, e hanno detto: Ha un demonio.
[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 E' venuto il Figlio dell'uomo, che mangia e beve, e dicono: Ecco un mangione e un beone, amico dei pubblicani e dei peccatori. Ma alla sapienza è stata resa giustizia dalle sue opere».
[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 Allora si mise a rimproverare le città nelle quali aveva compiuto il maggior numero di miracoli, perché non si erano convertite:
[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 «Guai a te, Corazin! Guai a te, Betsàida. Perché, se a Tiro e a Sidone fossero stati compiuti i miracoli che sono stati fatti in mezzo a voi, gia da tempo avrebbero fatto penitenza, ravvolte nel cilicio e nella cenere.
“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 Ebbene io ve lo dico: Tiro e Sidone nel giorno del giudizio avranno una sorte meno dura della vostra.
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 sarai forse innalzata fino al cielo? Fino agli inferi precipiterai! E tu, Cafarnao, Perché, se in Sòdoma fossero avvenuti i miracoli compiuti in te, oggi ancora essa esisterebbe! (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 Ebbene io vi dico: Nel giorno del giudizio avrà una sorte meno dura della tua!».
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 quel tempo Gesù disse: «Ti benedico, o Padre, Signore del cielo e della terra, perché hai tenuto nascoste queste cose ai sapienti e agli intelligenti e le hai rivelate ai piccoli.
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 Sì, o Padre, perché così è piaciuto a te.
Yes, Father, [you have done that] because it seemed good to you [to do] so.”
27 Tutto mi è stato dato dal Padre mio; nessuno conosce il Figlio se non il Padre, e nessuno conosce il Padre se non il Figlio e colui al quale il Figlio lo voglia rivelare.
[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 Venite a me, voi tutti, che siete affaticati e oppressi, e io vi ristorerò.
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 Prendete il mio giogo sopra di voi e imparate da me, che sono mite e umile di cuore, e troverete ristoro per le vostre anime.
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 Il mio giogo infatti è dolce e il mio carico leggero».
