⁷ And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, `What went ye out to the wilderness to view? -- a reed shaken by the wind?

⁸ `But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses.

⁹ `But what went ye out to see? -- a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,

¹⁰ for this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

¹¹ Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.

¹² `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,

¹³ for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,

¹⁴ and if ye are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who was about to come;

¹⁵ he who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.