A Translation of the New Testament from the original Greek Part 3

(29)And departing thence, Jesus went to the sea-side of Galilee; and ascending a mountain, he sat down there. (30)And great mult.i.tudes came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, dumb, cripples, and many others, and cast them down at the feet of Jesus; and he cured them all: (31)insomuch that the mult.i.tude marvelled when they saw the dumb speaking, the cripples sound, the lame walking, and the blind restored to sight: and they glorified the G.o.d of Israel.

(32)Then Jesus calling his disciples, said, I have compa.s.sion on the mult.i.tude, for they have now continued with me three days, and have not any thing to eat: and send them away fasting I will not, lest they faint on the road. (33)And his disciples said unto him, Whence can we in the wilderness have loaves enough to satisfy the cravings of so great a mult.i.tude? (34)And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. (35)And he commanded the mult.i.tude to sit down on the ground. (36)And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, he gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the mult.i.tude. (37)And they did all eat, and were filled: and took up a superabundance of fragments seven baskets full. (38)And they that had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. (39)And dismissing the mult.i.tudes he went on board a vessel, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

CHAP. XVI.

AND the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to him, and, to make trial of him, desired him to shew them a sign from heaven. (2)And he answering, said unto them, When evening comes, ye say, Fair weather, for the sky is red. (3)And in the morning, It will be tempestuous to-day, for the sky is gloomy and fiery red. Ye hypocrites, do ye know how to discern the appearance of the sky, and are ye unable to discern the signs of the times? (4)A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh a sign; and no sign shall be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

(5)And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. (6)Then Jesus said to them, Beware and abstain from the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (7)So they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have not taken bread. (8)But when Jesus knew it, he said unto them, Why are ye reasoning among yourselves, O ye of little faith, because ye have not taken bread? (9)Do you not consider, nor remember the five loaves among the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (10)Nor the seven loaves among the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

(11)How is it that ye do not understand, that I spake not to you of bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

(12)Then understood they, that he spake about abstaining not from the leaven in the bread, but from the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

(13)Then Jesus coming into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, questioned his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I am? The Son of Man?

(14)But they replied, Some, that thou art John the Baptist; but others, Elias; and others again, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. (15)He saith unto them, But who do ye say that I am? (16)Then Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living G.o.d. (17)And Jesus replying, said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father, who is in heaven.

(18)And I tell thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of h.e.l.l shall not prevail against it.

(19)And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(20)Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Messiah.

(21)From that time Jesus began to shew his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and of the chief-priests, and of the scribes, and be put to death, and the third day rise again. (22)And Peter taking him aside, began to chide him, saying, Mercy on thee, Lord! this shall never be thy case. (23)Then turning from him, he said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan! thou art an offence to me: for thou dost not relish the things of G.o.d, but those of men.

(24)Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25)For whosoever is desirous to preserve his life, shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake, shall find it. (26)For what would a man be advantaged, though he could gain the whole world, if he should suffer the loss of his soul? or what will a man give as the ransom for his soul? (27)For the Son of man shall hereafter come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then shall he recompense every man according to his practice. (28)Verily I say unto you, There are some of those standing here, who shall in no wise taste of death, until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

CHAP. XVII.

THEN six days after, Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them into an exceeding high mountain apart.

(2)And he was transformed before them; and his face shone as the sun, and his garments were white as the light. (3)And behold, there appeared to them, Moses and Elias talking with him. (4)Then Peter addressing him, said to Jesus, Lord, It is well that we are here; if it please thee, we will make here three tents; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (5)And while he was yet speaking, behold, a luminous cloud overshadowed them; and lo! a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom is my delight; hear him! (6)And the disciples hearing it, fell on their face, and were exceedingly affrighted. (7)And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, be not affrighted. (8)Then lifting up their eyes, they saw no person, but Jesus only. (9)And when they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell no man the vision, until the Son of man is risen from the dead. (10)And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then do the scribes affirm, that Elias must come first? (11)Then Jesus answering said unto them, Elias indeed cometh first, and will reform all things. (12)But I say unto you, That Elias is already come, and they knew him not, but have done by him whatsoever they chose: even so also must the Son of man suffer by them. (13)Then understood the disciples that he spake to them of John the Baptist.

(14)And when they were come to the mult.i.tude, there came to him a man, kneeling down to him, and saying, (15)Lord, have compa.s.sion on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffers grievously; for oftentimes he falleth into the fire, and often into the water. (16)And I brought him to thy disciples, and they have not been able to cure him. (17)Then Jesus answering, said, O generation, faithless, and perverse! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me.

(18)And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil came out of him; and the child was cured from that hour. (19)Then the disciples of Jesus coming privately, said, Why could not we cast it out? (20)Then said Jesus unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence, thither, and it will remove; and nothing will be impossible for you. (21)But this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

(22)And as they were returning into Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of men: (23)and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise again. And they were grieved exceedingly.

(24)And when they came to Capernaum, they who receive the tax of two drachmas came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

(25)He saith, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth receive customs and tax? from their own children, or from aliens?

(26)Peter saith to him, From aliens. Jesus saith unto him, In that case then the children are free. (27)But that we give them no offence, go unto the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish which cometh up; and on opening his mouth, thou wilt find a stater, that take and give them for me and thee.

CHAP. XVIII.

AT that time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is indeed the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2)And Jesus calling a little boy, set him in the midst of them, (3)and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be changed and be as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4)Whosoever therefore shall humble himself, as this little child, he shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5)And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. (6)And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones, who believe in me, to stumble, it were better for him that a millstone was hung at his neck, and that he was sunk in the depth of the sea.

(7)Wo to the world because of offences! for there is a necessity that offences come: nevertheless, wo to that man by whom the offence cometh!

(8)If then thy hand, or thy foot, lead thee to offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee: for it were better for thee to enter into life, halting or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the fire, which is eternal. (9)And if thine eye lead thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee, for it were better for thee to enter into life with one eye only, than having two eyes to be cast into h.e.l.l-fire.

(10)See that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you, That their angels in heaven continually behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. (11)For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

(12)What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them stray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go and seek that which had strayed? (13)And if he happen to find it, verily I say unto you, that he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which never went astray. (14)Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones perish.

(15)Now if thy brother sin against thee, go and reprove him between thyself and him alone; if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

(16)But if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed.

(17)But if he disregard them, inform the church: and if he disregard the church, let him be to thee as a heathen, or a publican. (18)Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever things ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19)Again I say unto you, That if two of you are concurring upon earth, respecting any matter, which ye shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. (20)For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

(21)Then Peter coming to him, said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22)Jesus saith to him, I tell thee not until seven times, but unto seventy times seven.

(23)Therefore is the kingdom of heaven like unto a certain king who purposed to settle his account with his servants. (24)And when he began to make up the account, there was brought to him one debtor, ten thousand talents in arrear: (25)but not having wherewithal to pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, and his wife and his children, and all things whatsoever he possessed, and payment to be made. (26)Then that servant falling prostrate, paid him the most profound homage, saying, Lord, have forbearance with me, and I will pay thee all. (27)Then his lord, moved with compa.s.sion towards that servant, discharged him, and forgave him the debt. (28)But that servant going out, found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing, throttled him, saying, Pay me what thou owest. (29)Then his fellow-servant fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have forbearance with me, and I will pay thee all. (30)And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay what he owed. (31)Then his fellow-servants, when they saw what was done, were exceedingly sorry, and came to their lord, and gave him an explicit account of all things that had pa.s.sed.

(32)Then his lord, calling him before him, said to him, Thou vile slave! all that debt I forgave thee, because thou besoughtest me: (33)and oughtest thou not to have had compa.s.sion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? (34)And his lord, incensed, delivered him up to the torturers, till he should pay all that he owed him. (35)Even so also will my heavenly Father do to you, except ye forgive every one of you his brother, from your hearts, their trespa.s.ses.

CHAP. XIX.

AND it came to pa.s.s when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan. (2)And great mult.i.tudes followed him; and he healed them there. (3)And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? (4)But he replying, said unto them, Have ye not read, that he who created them from the beginning, created them male and female? (5)And he said, for this reason shall a man forsake father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (6)Wherefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore G.o.d hath yoked together, let no man separate.

(7)They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give her a bill of divorce, and to put her away? (8)He saith unto them, It was on account of the hardness of your hearts that Moses gave you permission to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not thus. (9)And I tell you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for wh.o.r.edom, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth the divorced woman, committeth adultery. (10)His disciples said unto him, If the case of a man with his wife be thus, it is not expedient to marry. (11)Then he said to them, All men are not capable of receiving this saying, but they to whom it is given. (12)For there are eunuchs, who were so from their mothers' womb; and there are eunuchs, who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that is capable of receiving, let him receive it.

(13)Then were brought to him little children, that he should lay his hands upon them, and pray _for them_: but the disciples rebuked them.

(14)Then said Jesus, Permit little children, and hinder them not from coming to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (15)And when he had laid his hands upon them, he departed thence.

(16)And lo! a person coming to him, said, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, in order to attain eternal life? (17)Then he said to him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, even G.o.d: but if thou art desirous of entering into life, keep the commandments. (18)He saith unto him, Which? Then said Jesus, these, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19)Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (20)The young man saith to him, All these things have I observed from my youth: in what am I still deficient? (21)Jesus said to him, If thou art desirous to be perfect, go, sell all thy substance, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (22)Now when the young man heard this speech, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

(23)Then Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That very difficultly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24)And again I repeat it to you, It is easier for a camel to pa.s.s through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.

(25)But when his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? (26)And Jesus looking upon them, said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with G.o.d all things are possible.

(27)Then Peter addressing him, said unto him, Lo! we have left all and followed thee; what, I pray thee, shall we receive? (28)Then said Jesus unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye who have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29)And every one who hath left family, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit life eternal. (30)But many, now first, will be the last; and last, who will be the first.

CHAP. XX.

FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, the master of a family, who went out at break of day, to hire labourers into his vineyard. (2)And when he had agreed with the labourers at a denarius a day, he sent them into the vineyard. (3)And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place unemployed. (4)And he said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is equitable, I will give it you.

So they went. (5)Again going out, about the sixth and ninth hour, he did after the same manner. (6)But about the eleventh hour, going out, he found others standing unemployed, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? (7)They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever is equitable, ye shall receive. (8)Now when the evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his overseer, Call the labourers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first. (9)And when they came, who began about the eleventh hour, they received each a denarius.

(10)But when the first came, they expected that they should receive more; and they also received every man a denarius. (11)But when they received it, they murmured against the master of the family: (12)saying, These last have wrought only a single hour, and thou hast put them on an equality with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. (13)But he answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no injustice; did I not agree with thee for a denarius? (14)Take then thine own, and begone: I chuse to give to this last even as to thee.

(15)Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (16)Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but the elect are few.

(17)And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took his twelve disciples aside on the road, and said to them; (18)Lo! we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, (19)and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to insult, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall rise again.

(20)Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children, with her sons, paying him obeisance, and pet.i.tioning a favour of him. (21)Then he said to her, What is thy wish? She saith unto him, Tell me that these my two sons shall sit, the one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left, in thy kingdom. (22)Then Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask.

Can ye drink of the cup that I am going to drink, and be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised? They say unto him, We are able.

(23)And he saith unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, shall ye be baptised; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, it is not in my power to bestow, but on those, for whom it was prepared by my Father.

(24)And the twelve, on hearing this, were filled with indignation against the two brethren. (25)But Jesus, calling them to him, said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority among them. (26)But thus shall it not be with you. But whosoever will be a great man among you, let him be your servant; (27)and whosoever will be first, let him be your slave.

(28)Even as the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(29)And as they were going out of Jericho, a great mult.i.tude followed him. (30)And, behold, two blind men sat by the road side, who hearing that Jesus was pa.s.sing by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David! (31)And the mult.i.tude checked them, that they should be silent; but they cried out the more, Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David. (32)And Jesus standing called them, and said, What desire ye, that I should do for you? (33)They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. (34)Then Jesus, moved with compa.s.sion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes recovered sight, and they followed him.

CHAP. XXI.

AND when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, (2)saying to them, Go into the village, which is opposite you, and immediately you will find an a.s.s tied, and a foal with her; loose and bring them to me. (3)And if any man say aught to you, ye shall tell them, That the Lord hath need of them, and immediately he will send them. (4)Now this was entirely done, that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, (5)"Tell the daughter of Sion, Lo! thy King cometh to thee, meek, and sitting on an a.s.s, even on a foal the a.s.s's colt." (6)Then the disciples going, and doing as Jesus had commanded them, (7)brought the a.s.s and her foal, and they spread over them their garments, and seated him upon them. (8)And a vast mult.i.tude spread their garments on the road, and others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them on the road: (9)and the mult.i.tudes who went before, and who followed after, cried, saying, Hosanna, to the son of David; blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

(10)And when he was entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was in commotion, saying, Who is this? (11)Then the mult.i.tudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet, who is from Nazareth of Galilee.

(12)And Jesus entered into the temple of G.o.d, and cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who sold doves (13)and said unto them, It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," but ye have made it a den of robbers.

(14)Then the blind and the lame came unto him, into the temple, and he cured them. (15)But when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvellous acts which he did, and the children crying out in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were filled with indignation; (16)and said to him, Hearest thou what these say? Jesus replied to them, Yes; but have ye never read, "That out of the mouths of infants and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (17)And turning his back upon them, he went out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

(18)Now in the morning, when returning into the city, he was hungry: (19)and seeing a fig-tree at the road side, he went up to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only: and saith unto it, Let no fruit spring from thee henceforth for ever: and immediately the fig-tree withered entirely away. (20)And when his disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How suddenly is the fig-tree withered away! (21)But Jesus addressing them, said, Verily I tell you, if ye have faith, and entertain no doubt, not only shall ye do what is done to the fig-tree, but if ye should even say to this mountain, Be lifted up, and be cast into the sea, it be done. (22)And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.