16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not [a]mourn.’ 18 For John came neither (A)eating nor (B)drinking, and they say, ‘(C)He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [b]heavy drinker, (D)a friend of tax collectors and [c]sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  2. Matthew 11:19 Or wine drinker
  3. Matthew 11:19 I.e., irreligious Jews

16 “What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? The people today are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other group,

17 ‘We played flute music for you,
    but you did not dance;
we sang a funeral song,
    but you were not sad.’

18 Why do I say people are like that? Because John came, not eating like other people or drinking wine, and people say, ‘He has a demon inside him.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He’s a friend of tax collectors and other sinners.’ But wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.”

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