¹⁹And Jesus said to them, “The bridegroom’s attendantsⁱ are not able to fast while the bridegroom is with them, are they?^j As long a time as they have the bridegroom with them, they are not able to fast. ²⁰But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

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Footnotes

iLiterally “the sons of the bridal chamber”
jThe negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “are they”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

NLTNew Living Translation

Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

KJV 1900King James Version

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

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