The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 18

(20)And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compa.s.sion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (21)And the son said to him: Father, I sinned against heaven, and before thee; I am no longer worthy to be called thy son. (22)But the father said to his servants: Bring forth a robe, the best, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; (23)and bring the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry. (24)Because this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.

(25)Now his elder son was in the field. And as he came, and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. (26)And calling to him one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant. (27)And he said to him: Thy brother is come; and thy father killed the fatted calf, because he received him back, safe and sound. (28)And he was angry, and would not go in; and his father came out, and entreated him.

(29)And he answering said to his father: Lo, so many years do I serve thee, and never transgressed thy command; and to me thou never gayest a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. (30)But when this thy son came, who devoured thy living with harlots, thou didst kill for him the fatted calf. (31)And he said to him: Child, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. (32)It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad; because this thy brother was dead and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

XVI.

AND he said also to the disciples: There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused to him as wasting his goods.

(2)And having called him, he said to him: What is this that I hear of thee? Give account of thy stewards.h.i.+p; for thou canst be no longer steward. (3)And the steward said within himself: What shall I do? for my master takes away from me the stewards.h.i.+p. I am not able to dig; to beg I am ashamed. (4)I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewards.h.i.+p, they may receive me into their houses. (5)And having called to him each one of his master's debtors, he said to the first: How much owest thou to my master? (6)And he said: A hundred measures of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. (7)Then he said to another: And how much owest thou? And he said: A hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him: Take thy bill, and write fourscore. (8)And the master commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; because the sons of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the sons of light.

(9)And I say to you: Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it fails, they may receive you into the everlasting habitations. (10)He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (11)If therefore ye were not faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? (12)And if ye were not faithful in that which is another's, who will give to you your own? (13)No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve G.o.d and Mammon.

(14)And the Pharisees also; who were covetous, heard all these things; and they derided him. (15)And he said to them: Ye are they who justify themselves before men; but G.o.d knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination before G.o.d.

(16)The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the good news of the kingdom of G.o.d is published, and every man presses into it. (17)And it is easier that heaven and earth should pa.s.s away, than that one t.i.ttle of the law should fail.

(18)Every one who puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when put away from a husband commits adultery.

(19)There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. (20)And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores, (21)and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22)And it came to pa.s.s, that the beggar died; and he was borne away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; (23)and in the underworld, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24)And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (25)But Abraham said: Child, remember that in thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things in full, and Lazarus in like manner his evil things; but now here, he is comforted and thou art tormented. (26)And besides all this, between us and you a great gulf is fixed; that they who would pa.s.s from hence to you may not be able, nor those from thence pa.s.s over to us. (27)And he said: I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house.

(28)For I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, that they may not also come into this place of torment. (29)Abraham says to him: They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them. (30)And he said: Nay, father Abraham; but if one should go to them from the dead, they will repent. (31)And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead.

XVII.

AND he said to his disciples: It is impossible that causes of offense should not come; but woe to him through whom they come! (2)It were better for him that a mill stone were placed about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to offend.

(3)Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (4)And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn to thee saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.

(5)And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith. (6)And the Lord said: If ye had faith as a grain of mustard, ye would say to this sycamine-tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea; and it would have obeyed you.

(7)And who of you, having a servant plowing, or feeding cattle, will say to him immediately, when he has come in from the field, Come and recline at table; (8)and will not rather say to him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken, and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (9)Does he thank that servant, because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. (10)So also ye, when ye shall have done all the things that were commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.

(11)And it came to pa.s.s, as he was going to Jerusalem, that he went through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (12)And as he was entering into a certain village, there met him ten leprous men, who stood afar off. (13)And they lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (14)And seeing it, he said to them: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pa.s.s that, as they went, they were cleansed. (15)And one of them, seeing that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying G.o.d, (16)and fell down on his face at his feet, giving thanks to him; and he was a Samaritan. (17)And Jesus answering said: Were not the ten cleansed? And where are the nine?

(18)Were none found returning to give glory to G.o.d, except this stranger? (19)And he said to him: Arise, and go; thy faith has made thee whole.

(20)And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of G.o.d would come, he answered them and said: The kingdom of G.o.d comes not with observation; (21)nor shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of G.o.d is within you[17:21].

(22)And he said to the disciples: Days will come, when ye will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye will not see it.

(23)And they will say to you, See here; or, See there; go not away, and follow not. (24)For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, s.h.i.+nes unto the other part under heaven, so will the Son of man be in his day. (25)But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected on the part of this generation.

(26)And as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be also in the days of the Son of man. (27)They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all. (28)In like manner also as it was in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29)but the same day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed all.

(30)After the same manner will it be, in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

(31)In that day, he who shall be on the house-top, and his goods in the house, let him not come down to take them away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not turn back. (32)Remember Lot's wife.

(33)Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose his life shall preserve it.

(34)I say to you, in that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken, and the other will be left. (35)Two women will be grinding together; one will be taken, and the other left. (37)And they answering say to him: Where, Lord? And he said to them: Where the body is, there also will the eagles be gathered together.

XVIII.

AND he spoke also a parable to them, to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; (2)saying: There was in a certain city a certain judge, who feared not G.o.d, nor regarded man. (3)And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of my adversary. (4)And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself: Though I fear not G.o.d, nor regard man, (5)yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me.

(6)And the Lord said: Hear what the unjust judge says. (7)And will not G.o.d avenge his chosen, who cry to him day and night, though he is long suffering in respect to them? (8)I say to you, that he will avenge them speedily. But yet, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

(9)And he spoke this parable to some who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others. (10)Two men went up into the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (11)The Pharisee stood, and prayed thus with himself: G.o.d, I thank thee, that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12)I fast twice in the week; I give t.i.thes of all that I possess[18:12]. (13)And the publican, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying: G.o.d be merciful to me, the sinner. (14)I say to you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For every one that exalts himself shall be humbled; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

(15)And they brought to him also infants, that he might touch them; and the disciples seeing it rebuked them. (16)But Jesus calling them to him, said: Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not; for to such belongs the kingdom of G.o.d. (17)Verily I say to you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of G.o.d as a little child, shall not enter therein.

(18)And a certain ruler asked him, saying: Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (19)And Jesus said to him: Why dost thou call me good? None is good save one, G.o.d. (20)Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother. (21)And he said: All these I kept from my youth. (22)And Jesus hearing it said to him: Yet lackest thou one thing; sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (23)And hearing this, he became very sorrowful; for he was exceedingly rich. (24)And Jesus seeing him became very sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of G.o.d! (25)For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.

(26)And they who heard it said: And who can be saved? (27)And he said: The things that are impossible with men are possible with G.o.d.

(28)And Peter said: Lo, we forsook all, and followed thee. (29)And he said to them: Verily I say to you, there is no one that forsook house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of G.o.d, (30)who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

(31)And taking with him the twelve, he said to them: Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things written by the prophets for the Son of man shall be accomplished. (32)For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon, (33)and they will scourge him, and put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again. (34)And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hidden from them, and they knew not the things that were said.

(35)And it came to pa.s.s, that as he came near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting by the way-side, begging. (36)And hearing a mult.i.tude pa.s.sing by, he inquired what this was. (37)And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth is pa.s.sing by. (38)And he called aloud, saying: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. (39)And they who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried much the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. (40)And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he was come near, he asked him, (41)saying: What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said: Lord, that I may receive sight. (42)And Jesus said to him: Receive sight; thy faith has made thee whole. (43)And immediately he received sight, and followed him, glorifying G.o.d. And all the people, seeing it, gave praise to G.o.d.

XIX.

AND having entered in, he was pa.s.sing through Jericho. (2)And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, and he was a chief publican; and this man was rich. (3)And he sought to see Jesus, who he was; and he could not on account of the mult.i.tude, because he was small in stature.

(4)And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore-tree to see him; because by that way he was to pa.s.s through. (5)And Jesus, when he came to the place, looked up and saw him, and said to him: Zaccheus, make haste and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house. (6)And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. (7)And seeing it, they all murmured, saying that he went in to be a guest with a sinner.

(8)And Zaccheus stood up, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I took aught from any one by false accusation, I restore fourfold. (9)And Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10)For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

(11)And as they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of G.o.d would immediately appear. (12)He said therefore: A certain n.o.bleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (13)And having called his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them: Traffic, till I come.

(14)But his citizens hated him, and sent an emba.s.sy after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.

(15)And it came to pa.s.s, when he had returned, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what each gained by trading.

(16)And the first came, saying: Lord, thy pound gained ten pounds.

(17)And he said to him: Well done, good servant; because thou wast faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

(18)And the second came, saying: Lord, thy pound made five pounds.

(19)And he said also to this man: And be thou over five cities.

(20)And another came, saying: Lord, behold thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin. (21)For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou layedst not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. (22)And he says to him: Out of thy mouth will I judge thee, wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow?

(23)Why then didst thou not put my money into the bank? and I, at my coming, should have required it with interest. (24)And he said to those standing by: Take from him the pound, and give it to him that has the ten pounds. (25)And they said to him: Lord, he has ten pounds.

(26)For I say to you, that to every one that has shall be given; and from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away.

(27)But those my enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

(28)And having spoken these things, he went before, going up to Jerusalem. (29)And it came to pa.s.s, as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called Olivet, that he sent forth two of his disciples, (30)saying: Go into the opposite village, in which as ye are entering ye will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever sat; loose and bring him. (31)And if any one ask you, why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say to him: Because the Lord has need of him. (32)And they that were sent forth departed, and found even as he said to them.

(33)And as they were loosing the colt, its owners said to them: Why loose ye the colt? (34)And they said: The Lord has need of him.

(35)And they brought him to Jesus; and having cast their garments upon the colt, they set Jesus thereon. (36)And as he went, they spread their garments in the way. (37)And as he was drawing near, just at the descent of the mount of the Olives, the whole mult.i.tude of the disciples began to rejoice, and praise G.o.d with a loud voice for all the miracles which they saw; (38)saying: Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!