[CHAP. XV.]
THEN drew nigh unto him all the tax-farmers and the sinners to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertains sinners, and eateth with them. 3Then spake he unto them this parable, saying, 4What man is there of you, possessing an hundred sheep, though he lose but one of them, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Congratulate me; for I have found that sheep of mine which was lost. 7I tell you, that just so will there be joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who hold not their need of repentance. 8Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it? 9And having found it, she calleth her female friends and neighbours together, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found the silver piece I had lost. 10Even so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God, over one repentant sinner.
11Then he said, A certain man had two sons: 12and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune. 13And not many days after, the younger son, collecting his all, travelled into a far distant country, and there dissipated his substance in a life of debauchery. 14But when he had spent all, there came a terrible famine in that region; and he began to know want. 15And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel. 17Then coming to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father abound with loaves of bread, and I am pining away with famine! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19and I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hirelings. 20And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet at a considerable distance, his father discovered him, and was moved with compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him again and again. 21Then said the son unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet: 23and bring hither the stall-fed steer, and kill it; and let us eat, and be joyous. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And they began to be joyous. 25Now his elder brother had been in the field: and when coming home he drew near the house, he heard a concert of music, and the chorus. 26And calling one of the servants, he inquired what these things meant. 27And he said, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed for him the stall-fed steer, because he hath received him in health. 28Then he was in great wrath, and would not enter the doors: therefore his father came out, and entreated him. 29But he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years I am serving thee, and never have transgressed thy command: yet to me thou hast never once given a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30but no sooner is this son of thine come, who hath devoured thy substance with whores, than thou hast killed for him the stall-fed steer. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all my possessions are thine. 32But it was right that we should rejoice, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
[CHAP. XVI.]
THEN said he also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and he received an information against him, as having dissipated his treasures. 2And calling him, he said to him, What is this report I hear of thee? give up the account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer in that office. 3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? because my master is taking away the stewardship from me: to dig, I have not the strength; to beg, I am ashamed. 4I know what I will do, that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may entertain me at their houses. 5So calling upon every one of his master’s debtors, he said to the first, How much owest thou to my master? 6And he said, A hundred baths of oil. And he said, Take thy account, and sit down directly, and write fifty. 7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred core of wheat. And he saith to him, Take thy account, and write fourscore. 8And the master praised the unjust steward, because he had acted providently: for the children of this world are more provident among their own generation of men, than the children of light. 9And I say unto you, Make yourselves friends with the unrighteous mammon that when ye fail, they may receive you into the eternal mansions.
10He that is faithful in the least thing, is faithful also in much: and he who is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust you with the true? 12and if ye have not been faithful in that which belongs to another, who will give up to you that which is your own? 13No domestic can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and neglect the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14Then the Pharisees also, who were dear lovers of money, heard all these things, and they sneered at him. 15And he said unto them, Ye are they who affect to be righteous persons before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God. 16The law and the prophets were until John: since that the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fail. 18Every one who putteth away his wife and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and every one who marrieth a woman divorced from her husband, committeth adultery.
19Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, making splendid entertainments every day: 20and there was a certain pauper, named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate covered with ulcers, 21and importunately desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: yea even the dogs came and licked his ulcers. 22Now it came to pass that the poor man died, and was carried up by angels into the bosom of Abraham. Then the rich man also died, and was buried: 23and in hell, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he seeth Abraham at a vast distance, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And crying out, he said, Father Abraham, have compassion on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented with this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou hast received thy good things during thy life, and Lazarus, in like manner, what was afflictive: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And besides all these considerations, between us and you there is a vast chasm fixed: so that they who might be willing to pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass through to us, from thence. 27And he said, I entreat thee then, father, that thou wouldest send him to my paternal mansion: 28for I have five brothers: that he may testify to them, that they also come not into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hearken to them. 30But he said, Ah no, father Abraham! but if one came to them from the dead, they will repent. 31Then he said to him, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
[CHAP. XVII.]
THEN he said to his disciples, It is impossible that offences should not come; but wo to him through whom they come! 2It would be advantageous for him, if a milstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea, rather than offend one of these little ones. 3Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin against thee, reprove him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if seven times in the day he sin against thee, and seven times in the day return to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.