Matthew 11

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.

1Jesus finished telling his twelve disciples what to do. Disciples are students who follow a teacher. Then Jesus went to teach and preach in their towns.

2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

2John the Baptist was locked up in prison. There he heard about the things Jesus was doing. So John sent two of his own followers to Jesus.

3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

3They asked Jesus, "Are you the one who was coming? Or should we wait for someone else?"

4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

4Jesus answered them, "Go back to John. Tell him what you hear and see."

5The 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.

5"Blind people can see. People who could not walk now walk. People with a bad skin sickness are made well and clean. Deaf people can hear. Dead people are raised to life. And poor people hear the good news."

6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

6"God blesses everyone who does not turn away from me."

7And 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?

7John's followers left. Then Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. He asked, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A tall plant bending in the wind?"

8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

8"So what did you go out to see? A man in soft, fine clothes? Look, people who wear fine clothes live in kings' houses."

9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

9"Then what did you go out to see? A prophet, someone who tells people what God says? Yes, and John is even more than a prophet."

10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

10"John is the one God's book wrote about long ago. It says, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get the road ready for you.'"

11Verily 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.

11"I am telling you the truth. Of all people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptist. But the smallest person in God's kingdom is greater than he is."

12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

12"From the days of John until now, people have attacked God's kingdom. Violent people try to grab it by force."

13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

13"All the prophets and the law of God told what was coming. They did this until John came."

14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

14"If you are willing to believe it, John is the Elijah who was coming."

NoteThe KJV spells the name "Elias." It is the Greek way of writing Elijah, the prophet who lived long before.

15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

15"If you have ears, then listen."

16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

16"What are the people of today like? They are like children sitting in the market. They call out to the other children."

17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

17"They say, 'We played happy music, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'"

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

18"John came, and he did not eat or drink like other people. And they say, 'An evil spirit is in him!'"

19The 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.

19"The Son of Man came eating and drinking. That is Jesus' own name for himself. And they say, 'Look, he eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But what wisdom does shows that wisdom is right."

20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

20Then Jesus spoke hard words to the towns where he had done most of his miracles. He did this because the people there did not turn away from their sins.

21Woe 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.

21"How sad for you, Chorazin! How sad for you, Bethsaida! I did great miracles in you. If those miracles had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have been sorry long ago. They would have put on rough cloth and sat in ashes."

NoteWearing rough, scratchy cloth and sitting in ashes was how people showed they were very sorry.

22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

22"But I tell you this. On the day God judges everyone, it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you."

23And 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.

23"And you, Capernaum, do you think you will be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead. If my miracles had happened in Sodom, that town would still be here today."

24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

24"But I tell you this. On the day God judges everyone, it will be easier for Sodom than for you."

25At 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.

25At that time Jesus said, "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You hid these things from wise and clever people. You showed them to little children."

26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

26"Yes, Father. This is what made you glad."

27All 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.

27"My Father has handed everything over to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. And no one knows the Father except the Son. The Son also shows the Father to anyone he chooses."

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

28"Come to me, all of you who are tired. Come, all of you who carry heavy loads. I will give you rest."

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

29"Take my yoke on your shoulders, and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in my heart. Then you will find rest inside yourselves."

NoteA yoke is a wooden bar laid across the shoulders of two animals so they can pull a load together.

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

30"For my yoke fits well, and the load I give is light."