24 And whanne the messangeris of Joon weren go forth, he bigan to seie of Joon to the puple,

25 What wenten ye out in to desert to se? a reed waggid with the wynd?

26 But what wenten ye out to se? a man clothid with softe clothis? Lo! thei that ben in precious cloth and in delicis, ben in kyngis housis. But what wenten ye out to se? a profete? Yhe, Y seie to you, and more than a profete.

27 This is he, of whom it is writun, Lo! Y sende myn aungel bifor thi face, which schal make thi weie redi bifor thee.

28 Certis Y seie to you, there is no man more prophete among children of wymmen, than is Joon; but he that is lesse in the kyngdom of heuenes, is more than he.

29 And al the puple herynge, and pupplicans, that hadden be baptisid with baptym of Joon, iustifieden God;

30 but the Farisees and the wise men of the lawe, that weren not baptisid of hym, dispisiden the counsel of God ayens hem silf.