6. because a friend of mine has come to me on his journey and I have nothing to set before him.’
7. Then from within he may answer, saying, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’
8. I tell you, even if the friend will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9. “So I say to you, ‘Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.
10. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.’
11. What father, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12. And if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?
13. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Ruach ha-Kodesh to those who ask Him!”
14. Now Yeshua was driving out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute one spoke and the crowds were amazed.
15. But some among them said, “By beelzebul, the ruler of demons, He drives out demons.”
16. Others, testing Him, were demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
17. But Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a house against a house falls.
18. Now if satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say by beelzebul I drive out the demons.
19. But if by beelzebul I drive out demons, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason, they will be your judges.
20. But if by the finger of God I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21. “When a strong one, fully-armed, protects his own estate, his possessions are safe.
22. But as soon as someone stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, then he takes away the armor that he had trusted in and divides up his plunder.
23. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
24. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places looking for rest. Not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house where I came from.’
25. And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.
26. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and settle there. And that man’s last condition becomes worse than the first.”