Book of Common Prayer

¹² Now therefore, as chosen by God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering, ¹³ forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a quarrel against another. Just as Christ forgave you, so also should you do.

¹⁴ Above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. ¹⁵ And may the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which peace you are called in one body. And see that you be thankful. 

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teach and exhort your own selves, in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs that have grace with them, singing in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And all things – whatsoever you do, in word or deed – do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John reported to him about all these things. ¹⁹ And John called to him two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we look for another?

²⁰ When the men came to Jesus, they said, John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we wait for another?

²¹ And at that same time, Jesus cured many people of their infirmities and diseases, and of evil spirits; and to many who were blind, he gave sight. ²² And Jesus answered and said to John’s disciples, Go your ways and tell John what things you have seen and heard – how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead arise. To the poor, the glad tidings are preached; ²³ and happy is he who is not offended by me.

²⁴ When the messengers of John had 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? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in kings’ courts. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, to prepare your way before you. ²⁸ For I say to you, among the children of women there is no greater prophet than John. Nevertheless, one who is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.

²⁹ And all the people who heard, and the publicans, justified God, and were baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and scribes rejected the counsel of God against themselves, and were not baptized by him.

³¹ And the Lord said, To what shall I liken the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept. ³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say he has the devil. ³⁴ The Son of man has come, and eats and drinks, and you say, Here is a man who is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. ³⁵ Yet wisdom is justified by her children.