Matthew 11:8

What ¹  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? ²  Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! ³ 

If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!

Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? Those who dress like that live in palaces, not out in the wilderness.

Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot.

But what went you out to see? a man delicately clothed? Those who have fair robes are in kings’ houses.

What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.

"But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

What ¹  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? ²  Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! ³ 

¹ tn Grk “But what.” Here ἀλλά (alla, a strong contrastive in Greek) produces a somewhat awkward sense in English, and has not been translated. The same situation occurs at the beginning of v. 9.

² sn The reference to fancy clothes makes the point that John was not rich or powerful, in that he did not come from the wealthy classes.

³ tn Or “palaces.”