Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ These are wells without water, and clouds carried about by a tempest, for whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. ¹⁸ For when they have spoken the swelling words of vanity, they beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh those who were clean escaped, but now are wrapped in errors. ¹⁹ They promise them liberty, and are themselves the bond-servants of corruption. For by whomever a person is overcome, to him he is in bondage.

²⁰ For if, after they have escaped from the corruption of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and of the Saviour Jesus Christ, they are yet tangled again in it and overcome, then is the latter end worse with them than the beginning. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given to them. ²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb: The dog is turned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

² When John, being in prison, heard about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples ³ and asked him, Are you he that was to come, or should we look for another? ⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John what you have heard and seen: ⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise up again, and the glad tidings are preached to the poor. ⁶ And blessed is the person who is not offended by me.

⁷ And as they departed, Jesus began to speak to the people about John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Did you go to see a reed shaken with the wind? ⁸ Or what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.

¹¹ Truly I say to you, among the children of women none greater than John the Baptist has arisen. Notwithstanding, he who is less in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.

¹² From the time of John the Baptist to now, the kingdom of heaven is sorely pressed, and those who go to it with effort seize it for themselves. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied with a view to the time of John. ¹⁴ And also, if you will receive it, this is Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.