Matthew 11
English Standard Version
Messengers from John the Baptist
11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 (A)Now when John heard (B)in prison about the deeds of (C)the Christ, he sent word by (D)his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you (E)the one who is to come, or shall we (F)look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 (G)the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and (H)the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who (I)is not offended by me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out (J)into the wilderness to see? (K)A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? (L)A prophet?[c] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
(M)“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 (N)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[d] and the violent take it by force. 13 (O)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is (P)Elijah who is to come. 15 (Q)He who has ears to hear,[e] let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came (R)neither eating (S)nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came (T)eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, (U)a friend of (V)tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[f]
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
20 (W)Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 (X)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in (Y)Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 (Z)But I tell you, it will be more bearable on (AA)the day of judgment for (AB)Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, (AC)Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to (AD)Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 (AE)But I tell you that (AF)it will be more tolerable on (AG)the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
25 (AH)At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, (AI)Lord of heaven and earth, that (AJ)you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and (AK)revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your (AL)gracious will.[g] 27 (AM)All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son (AN)except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone (AO)to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 (AP)Come to (AQ)me, all who labor and are (AR)heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and (AS)learn from me, for I am (AT)gentle and lowly in heart, and (AU)you will find rest for your souls. 30 For (AV)my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
- Matthew 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man
- Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?
- Matthew 11:12 Or has been coming violently
- Matthew 11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear
- Matthew 11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)
- Matthew 11:26 Or for so it pleased you well
Matthew 11
Wycliffe Bible
11 And it was done, when Jesus had ended, he commanded to his twelve disciples, and passed from thence [And it was done, when Jesus had ended, he, commanding to his twelve disciples, passed from thence] to teach and preach in the cities of them.
2 But when John in bonds had heard the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 and said to him, Art thou he that shall come, or we abide another [or abide we another]?
4 And Jesus answered, and said to them, Go ye, and tell again to John those things that ye have heard and seen. [And Jesus answering, said to them, Ye going tell again to John those things which ye have heard and seen.]
5 Blind men see, crooked men go [crooked men wander], mesels be made clean, deaf men hear, dead men rise again, poor men be taken to preaching of the gospel [poor men be preached the gospel].
6 And he is blessed, that shall not be caused to stumble in me. [And he is blessed, that shall not be offended in me.]
7 And when they were gone away, Jesus began to say of John to the people [Jesus began to say of John to the companies], What thing went ye out into desert to see? a reed waved with the wind?
8 Or what thing went ye out to see? a man clothed with soft clothes [But what thing went ye out to see? whether a man clothed with soft clothings]? Lo! they that be clothed with soft clothes be in the houses of kings.
9 But what thing went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Lo! I send mine angel before thy face, that shall make ready thy way before thee [which shall make ready thy way before thee].
11 Truly I say to you, there rose none more than John Baptist among the children of women; but he that is less in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he. [Truly I say to you, none rose greater than John Baptist among the sons of women; forsooth he that is the least in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he.]
12 And from the days of John Baptist till now the kingdom of heavens suffereth violence, and violent men snatch it.
13 For all [the] prophets and the law till John prophesied;
14 and if ye will receive, he is Elias that is to come.
15 He that hath ears of hearing, hear he.
16 But to whom shall I guess this generation like? It is like to children sitting in the market, that cry to their peers [which, crying to their peers],
17 and say [say], We have sung to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wailed.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo! a man a glutton, and a drinker of wine, and a friend of publicans and of sinful men [and friend of publicans and sinful men]. And wisdom is justified of her sons.
20 Then Jesus began to say reproof to cities, in which full many works of power of him were done [in which full many virtues of him were done], for they did not penance.
21 Woe to thee! Chorazin, woe to thee! Bethsaida; for if the works of power [for if the virtues] that be done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, sometime they had done penance in haircloth and ashes.
22 Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be less pain to Tyre and Sidon in the day of doom, than to you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, whether thou shalt be araised up into heaven? Thou shalt go down into hell. For if the works of power that be done in thee, had been done in Sodom, peradventure they should have dwelled till into this day. [And thou, Capernaum, whether till into heaven thou shalt be reared up? Thou shalt go down till into hell. For if the virtues that be done in thee, had been done in Sodom, peradventure they should have dwelled till unto this day.]
24 Nevertheless I say to you, that to the land of Sodom it shall be less pain in the day of doom, than to thee.
25 In that time Jesus answered, and said, I acknowledge to thee, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for thou hast hid these things from wise men, and ready [In that time, Jesus answering said, I acknowledge to thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for thou hast hid these things from wise men and prudent], and hast showed them to little children;
26 so, Father, for so it was pleasing before thee.
27 All things be given to me of my Father; and no man knew the Son, but the Father, neither any man knew the Father, but the Son, and to whom the Son would show.[a]
28 All ye that travail, and be charged, come to me, and I shall fulfill you [and I shall refresh, or fulfill, you].
29 Take ye my yoke on you [Take ye my yoke upon you], and learn ye of me, for I am mild and meek in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls.
30 For my yoke is soft, and my charge is light [and my charge is light, or easy].
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:27 All things be taken to me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, no but the Father, neither any man knoweth the Father, no but the Son, and to whom the Son will show.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
2001 by Terence P. Noble