3 14:12And he said also to him that had invited him, When you make a breakfast, or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brothers, nor your relatives, nor your rich neighbors, lest they also at some time invite you in return, and a compensation be made to you. 14:13But when you make a feast, invite the poor, crippled, lame, blind, 14:14and you shall be blessed; for they cannot compensate you; for you shall be compensated at the resurrection of the just.
4 14:15And one of those reclining with him, hearing these things, said to him, Blessed is he that eats bread in the kingdom of God. 14:16And he said to him, A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. 14:17And he sent his servant at the time of the supper to say to the invited, Come, for all things are now ready. 14:18And they all with one consent excused themselves. The first said to him, I have bought a field and I must go to see it; I pray you have me excused. 14:19And another said, I have bought five yokes of oxen and I go to try them; I pray you have me excused. 14:20And another said, I have married a wife, and on this account I cannot come. 14:21And the servant came and reported to his lord these things. Then the master of the house; being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and maimed, and blind, and lame. 14:22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you commanded, and yet there is room. 14:23And the Lord said to the servant, Go out into the ways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled; 14:24for I tell you that none of those men that were invited shall taste of my supper.
5 14:25And great multitudes were travelling with him; and turning around he said to them, 14:26If any one comes to me, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and still more his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 14:27And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 14:28For what man of you wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the expense, whether he has the means to finish? 14:29lest having laid its foundation, and not being able to finish, all who see ridicule him, 14:30saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. 14:31Or what king going to engage in war with another king, does not first sit down and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? 14:32And if not, while he is yet a great way off, sending an embassy he desires conditions of peace. 14:33So, therefore, no one of you can be my disciple who does not forsake all that he has. 14:34Salt, therefore, is good; but if the salt has lost its strength, with what shall it be seasoned? 14:35It is not fit for land, nor for manure; they cast it away. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
CHAPTER XX.
PARABLES OF THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST MONEY, AND THE PRODIGAL SON.
1 15:1AND all the publicans and sinners came near him to hear him. 15:2And both the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. 15:3And he spoke to them this parable; saying, 15:4What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost sheep till he finds it. 15:5And finding it, he puts it on his shoulders rejoicing; 15:6and coming to the house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found my sheep that was lost. 15:7So, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that changes his mind, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need a change of mind.
2 15:8Or what woman having ten drachmas [140 cents], if she loses one drachma [14 cents], does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek carefully till she finds it? 15:9And when she finds it, she calls her female friends and neighbors together, saying, Congratulate me, for I have found the drachma which I lost. 15:10So, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner that changes his mind.
3 15:11And he said, A certain man had two sons. 15:12And the youngest of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me; and he divided to them his living. 15:13And not many days after, the youngest son, collecting all his property, went abroad to a distant country; and there wasted his property, living intemperately. 15:14And when he had spent all, there was a severe famine in that country; and he began to be in want. 15:15And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his field to feed swine. 15:16And he desired to fill his stomach with the carob pods which the swine eat; and no man gave him.
4 15:17And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father abound in bread, but I perish here with hunger! 15:18I will arise and go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; 15:19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants. 15:20And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet far off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 15:21And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 15:22But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; 15:23and bring the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat, and rejoice; 15:24for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to rejoice.
5 15:25But his older son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house he heard music and the dancers. 15:26And calling one of the servants he inquired what these things meant. 15:27And he said to him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back in health. 15:28And he was angry, and would not go in; but his father came out and entreated him. 15:29And he answered and said to his father, Behold, I have served you so many years, and have never disobeyed your command; and you have never given me a kid, that I might rejoice with my friends; 15:30but when this your son came who has consumed his living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf. 15:31But he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all mine is yours. 15:32We ought also to rejoice and be glad; for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.