Luke 7:24-36

English Standard Version

²⁴When John's messengers had gone, Jesus^[a] began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^(A)into the wilderness to see? ^(B)A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. ²⁶What then did you go out to see? ^(C)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷This is he of whom it is written,

^(D)“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

²⁸I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹(^(E)When all the people heard this, and ^(F)the tax collectors too, they declared God just,^[b] ^(G)having been baptized with ^(H)the baptism of John, ³⁰^(I)but the Pharisees and ^(J)the lawyers ^(K)rejected ^(L)the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

³¹“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

³³For John the Baptist has come ^(M)eating no bread and ^(N)drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴The Son of Man has come ^(O)eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, ^(P)a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵Yet ^(Q)wisdom is justified by all her children.”