Matthew 9:34

But the Pharisees ¹  said, “By the ruler ²  of demons he casts out demons.” ³ 

But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

But the Pharisees were saying, "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."

But the Pharisees said, "He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons."

The Pharisees were left sputtering, "Hocus pocus. It's nothing but hocus pocus. He's probably made a pact with the Devil."

But the Pharisees said, By the ruler of evil spirits, he sends evil spirits out of men.

But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons."

But the Pharisees ¹  said, “By the ruler ²  of demons he casts out demons.” ³ 

¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

² tn Or “prince.”

³ tc Although codex Cantabrigiensis (D), along with a few other Western versional and patristic witnesses, lacks this verse, virtually all other witnesses have it. The Western text’s reputation for free alterations as well as the heightened climax if v. 33 concludes this pericope explains why these witnesses omitted the verse.