As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said,“ What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?

他们走的时候，耶稣就对众人讲论约翰说：“你们从前出到旷野是要看什么呢？要看风吹动的芦苇吗？

他们一走，耶稣就对众人谈到约翰，说：“你们从前到旷野去，是要看什么呢？看风吹动的芦苇吗？

他们一走，耶稣就对众人谈到约翰，说：“你们从前到旷野去，是要看什么呢？看风吹动的芦苇吗？

他们离开后，耶稣对众人谈起约翰，说：“你们从前去旷野要看什么呢？看随风摇动的芦苇吗？

他们走了之后，耶稣对群众讲起约翰来，说：“你们到旷野去，是要看什么？被风吹动的芦苇吗？

约翰的门徒们走了，耶稣就开始对众人谈论约翰，说：“你们曾经到旷野去，是要观看什么呢？一根被风吹动的芦苇吗？

他們走的時候，耶穌就對眾人講論約翰說：「你們從前出到曠野是要看甚麼呢？要看風吹動的蘆葦嗎？

他們一走，耶穌就對眾人談到約翰，說：「你們從前到曠野去，是要看甚麼呢？看風吹動的蘆葦嗎？

他們一走，耶穌就對眾人談到約翰，說：「你們從前到曠野去，是要看甚麼呢？看風吹動的蘆葦嗎？

他們離開後，耶穌對眾人談起約翰，說：「你們從前去曠野要看什麼呢？看隨風搖動的蘆葦嗎？

他們走了之後，耶穌對群眾講起約翰來，說：“你們到曠野去，是要看甚麼？被風吹動的蘆葦嗎？

他們走了，耶穌就對羣眾講論約翰說：『你們出去到野地裏要看甚麼呢？被風搖動的蘆葦麼？

約翰的門徒們走了，耶穌就開始對眾人談論約翰，說：「你們曾經到曠野去，是要觀看什麼呢？一根被風吹動的蘆葦嗎？

其人歸、耶穌舉約翰語眾曰、爾曩出野、何觀耶、風動之葦乎、

約翰之徒歸、耶穌舉約翰示眾曰、爾素出野、欲何觀耶、葦動於風乎、

約翰門徒去後、耶穌舉約翰語眾曰、爾昔出野、欲何觀耶、觀葦動於風乎、

二徒既返、耶穌向眾論如望曰：『曩者爾曹適彼曠野、出視何物？將風中之蘆葦乎？

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds.“ What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?

As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John,“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

But when you ask, you must believe. You must not doubt. That’s because a person who doubts is like a wave of the sea. The wind blows and tosses them around.

We will no longer be babies in the faith. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves. We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be blown around by cleverness and tricks. Certain people use them to hide their evil plans.

John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. For a while you chose to enjoy his light.

“ A messenger is calling out in the desert,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3)And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River.

So John’s messengers left. Then Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said,“ What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those who wear fine clothes and have many expensive things are in palaces.Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,“‘ I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way for you.’( Malachi 3:1)I tell you, no one more important than John has ever been born. But the least important person in God’s kingdom is more important than John is.”All the people who heard Jesus’ words agreed that God’s way was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. These people had all been baptized by John.But the Pharisees and the authorities on the law did not accept for themselves God’s purpose. So they had not been baptized by John.

So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more. Whoever has nothing, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea. They also came from the whole area around the Jordan River.

Where did John’s baptism come from? Was it from heaven? Or did it come from human authority?” They talked to one another about it. They said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

He went into all the countryside around the Jordan River. There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.Here is what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet. It says,“ A messenger is calling out in the desert,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The crooked roads will become straight. The rough ways will become smooth.And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3–5)John spoke to the crowds coming to be baptized by him. He said,“ You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger?

Then Jesus turned around and saw them following. He asked,“ What do you want?” They said,“ Rabbi, where are you staying?” Rabbi means Teacher.

When I planned all this, was I ready to change my mind for no good reason? No. I don’t make my plans the way the world makes theirs. In the same breath the world says both,“ Yes! Yes!” and“ No! No!”But just as sure as God is faithful, our message to you is not“ Yes” and“ No.”

In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the Desert of Judea.He said,“ Turn away from your sins! The kingdom of heaven has come near.”John is the one Isaiah the prophet had spoken about. He had said,“ A messenger is calling out in the desert,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3)

But you are as unsteady as water. So you won’t be first anymore. You had sex with my concubine on my bed. You lay on my couch and made it‘ unclean.’