Mattheum 11
1 et factum est cum consummasset Iesus praecipiens duodecim discipulis suis transiit inde ut doceret et praedicaret in civitatibus eorum
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 Iohannes autem cum audisset in vinculis opera Christi mittens duos de discipulis suis
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 ait illi tu es qui venturus es an alium expectamus
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 et respondens Iesus ait illis euntes renuntiate Iohanni quae auditis et videtis
[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 caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt pauperes evangelizantur
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 et beatus est qui non fuerit scandalizatus 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 illis autem abeuntibus coepit Iesus dicere ad turbas de Iohanne quid existis in desertum videre harundinem vento agitatam
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 sed quid existis videre hominem mollibus vestitum ecce qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt
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 sed quid existis videre prophetam etiam dico vobis et plus quam prophetam
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 hic enim est de quo scriptum est ecce ego mitto angelum meum ante faciem tuam qui praeparabit viam tuam ante te
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 amen dico vobis non surrexit inter natos mulierum maior Iohanne Baptista qui autem minor est in regno caelorum maior est illo
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 a diebus autem Iohannis Baptistae usque nunc regnum caelorum vim patitur et violenti rapiunt illud
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 omnes enim prophetae et lex usque ad Iohannem prophetaverunt
[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 et si vultis recipere ipse est Helias qui venturus est
[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 qui habet aures audiendi audiat
If you want to understand this, you must think [carefully] [MTY] [about what I have just said] [MTY].”
16 cui autem similem aestimabo generationem istam similis est pueris sedentibus in foro qui clamantes coaequalibus
“(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 dicunt cecinimus vobis et non saltastis lamentavimus et non planxistis
‘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 venit enim Iohannes neque manducans neque bibens et dicunt daemonium habet
[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 venit Filius hominis manducans et bibens et dicunt ecce homo vorax et potator vini publicanorum et peccatorum amicus et iustificata est sapientia a filiis suis
[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 tunc coepit exprobrare civitatibus in quibus factae sunt plurimae virtutes eius quia non egissent paenitentiam
[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 vae tibi Corazain vae tibi Bethsaida quia si in Tyro et Sidone factae essent virtutes quae factae sunt in vobis olim in cilicio et cinere paenitentiam egissent
“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 verumtamen dico vobis Tyro et Sidoni remissius erit in die iudicii quam vobis
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 et tu Capharnaum numquid usque in caelum exaltaberis usque in infernum descendes quia si in Sodomis factae fuissent virtutes quae factae sunt in te forte mansissent usque in hunc diem (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 verumtamen dico vobis quia terrae Sodomorum remissius erit in die iudicii quam tibi
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 illo tempore respondens Iesus dixit confiteor tibi Pater Domine caeli et terrae quia abscondisti haec a sapientibus et prudentibus et revelasti ea parvulis
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 ita Pater quoniam sic fuit placitum ante te
Yes, Father, [you have done that] because it seemed good to you [to do] so.”
27 omnia mihi tradita sunt a Patre meo et nemo novit Filium nisi Pater neque Patrem quis novit nisi Filius et cui voluerit Filius revelare
[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 ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis et ego reficiam vos
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 tollite iugum meum super vos et discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde et invenietis requiem animabus vestris
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 iugum enim meum suave est et onus meum leve est
