A Translation of the New Testament from the original Greek Part 10

(26)And they sailed over unto the region of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. (27)And as he landed, there met him a certain man from the city, who had devils for a long while, and kept no clothes on him, and never abode in a house, but in the tombs. (28)But when he saw Jesus, roaring out, he fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of G.o.d Most High? I pray thee, torment me not. (29)For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man; for many times it had seized on him; and though under a guard, and bound with chains and fetters; yet bursting the bonds, he was driven by the devil into the desert places. (30)Then Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? and he said, Legion: for many devils were entered into him. (31)And he besought him that he would not order them to go into the abyss. (32)Now a herd of many swine was there feeding on the mountain; and they besought him that he would permit them to enter into them. And he permitted them. (33)Then the devils going out of the man, entered into the swine; and the herd rushed down a precipice into the lake, and was suffocated. (34)But when those who fed them saw what was done they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country places. (35)And they came out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man sitting, from whom the devils were gone out, clothed, and in his sound mind, at the feet of Jesus; and they were afraid. (36)Then they also who had seen how the demoniac was recovered, told them. (37)And the whole mult.i.tude of the country around the Gadarenes, entreated him to depart from them; for they were seized with great terror: and he embarked on the vessel, and returned. (38)And the man out of whom the devils had gone, besought him to be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, (39)Return to thy house, and declare what things G.o.d hath done for thee. And he went away, and published through the whole city what things Jesus had done for him.

(40)And it came to pa.s.s, when Jesus returned, the people welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. (41)And, behold, there came a man whose name was Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and falling at the feet of Jesus, he entreated him to come to his house; (42)for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying: and as he was going, the mult.i.tude thronged him. (43)And a woman, who had a flux of blood, for twelve years, who had spent all her substance on physicians, and could not get a cure from any; (44)coming behind him, touched the fringe of his garment; and instantly the flux of her blood stopped. (45)And Jesus said, Who touched me? And when all denied, Peter, and those who were with him, said, Master, the mult.i.tudes throng and press thee, and sayest thou, Who hath touched me? (46)Then said Jesus, Some person hath touched me, for I know that miraculous power is gone out from me. (47)Then the woman seeing she was not hid, came trembling, and falling down before him, declared to him before all the people, for what cause she had touched him; and how she was cured instantaneously. (48)Then he said unto her, Be of good cheer, daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace.

(49)And while he was yet speaking, a person came to the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead, give the master no further trouble. (50)Then Jesus hearing it, addressed him, saying, Fear not, only believe, and she shall be saved. (51)And entering into the house, he suffered no person to come in, but Peter, and James, and John, and the father and mother of the child. (52)Now all were weeping and lamenting her: and he said, Weep not, she is not dead, but asleep.

(53)And they derided him, for they knew that she was dead. (54)And he put them all without, and taking her by the hand, cried, saying, Maid, arise! (55)And her spirit returned, and she immediately arose; and he commanded to give her something to eat. (56)And her parents were struck with amazement. But he enjoined them to tell no man what was done.

CHAP. IX.

THEN calling his twelve disciples, he gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (2)And he sent them to preach the kingdom of G.o.d, and to heal the sick. (3)And he said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs, nor satchel, nor bread, nor money, nor have two coats each. (4)And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence go out. (5)And whosoever shall not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the dust from your feet, for a testimony against them. (6)And they went forth, and pa.s.sed through the villages, preaching the gospel, and performing cures everywhere.

(7)Then Herod the tetrarch heard of all things that were done by him; and he was in much distraction of mind, because it was said by some, that John was risen from the dead: (8)and of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the ancient prophets was risen again. (9)And Herod said, John I beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.

(10)And when the apostles returned, they told him what they had done.

And taking them, he withdrew privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. (11)But when the mult.i.tudes knew it, they followed him and receiving them, he spake to them concerning the kingdom of G.o.d, and healed those who had need of a cure. (12)Now the day began to decline: and the twelve coming to him, said, Dismiss the mult.i.tude, that going away into the villages and farms round about, they may lodge and find provision; for here we are in a desert place.

(13)Then he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves, and two fishes; unless we go somewhere and buy provisions for all this mult.i.tude: (14)for there were about five thousand men. Then said he to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties each in companies. (15)And they did so: and they made them all sit down. (16)And taking the five loaves, and the two fishes, looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the mult.i.tude. (17)And they did all eat, and were filled; and there were taken up of the fragments which were more than enough for them, twelve baskets.

(18)And it came to pa.s.s, as he had been praying in retirement, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, Who do the mult.i.tudes say that I am? (19)And they answering said, John the Baptist; but some Elias; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again. (20)And he said to them, But who do ye say that I am? Then Peter answering said, The Messiah of G.o.d. (21)And strictly charging them, he commanded, that they should tell no man this: (22)saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day rise again.

(23)And he said unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (24)For whosoever would preserve his life shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake, shall preserve it. (25)For what advantage hath a man in gaining all the would, if he destroy himself, or be punished with the loss of life? (26)For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and his father's, and of the holy angels. (27)And I tell you of a certainty, there are some of those who stand here, who shall not taste death, till they see the kingdom of G.o.d.

(28)And it was about eight days after these discourses, that taking Peter, and John, and James, he went up into a mountain to pray. (29)And it came to pa.s.s, as he was at prayer, that the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment white and refulgent. (30)And, lo! two men conversed with him, who were Moses and Elias: (31)who appeared in glory, and mentioned his departure, which he was ready to accomplish at Jerusalem. (32)But Peter and they who were with him were weighed down with sleep: but when they awoke, they beheld his glory, and the two men who were standing with them. (33)And it came to pa.s.s, as they were departing from him, Peter said unto Jesus, it is well that we are here, and we will make three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said. (34)And as he was thus speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them: and they were afraid as they were entering into the cloud. (35)And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son; hear him. (36)And when the voice ceased, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days a word of the things which they had seen.

(37)And it came to pa.s.s, on the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a great mult.i.tude met him. (38)And, behold, a man from among the mult.i.tude cried out aloud, saying, Master, I pray thee, look upon my son; for he is my only begotten. (39)And, behold! a spirit taketh him, and suddenly he crieth out, and convulseth him, with foaming; and bruising him, with difficulty retires from him. (40)And I besought thy disciples that they would cast him out, and they could not. (41)Then Jesus answering, said, O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall I be with you, how long shall I bear with you? bring hither thy son. (42)And while he was yet approaching the devil threw him down, and violently convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and cured the child; and restored him to his father. (43)And they were all struck with amazement at the mighty power of G.o.d. And while they were all wondering at the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples, (44)Keep ye these sayings in your ears; for the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. (45)And they understood not that declaration, and it was hid from them, that they should not comprehend its meaning: and they were afraid to ask him concerning that saying.

(46)Then a dispute sprang up among them, which of them should be the greatest. (47)But Jesus knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a little boy, and set him by his side, (48)and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth Him that sent me: for he who is the least among you all, he shall be great.

(49)Then John addressing him said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followed not with us.

(50)And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not; for he that is not against us, is for us.

(51)And it came to pa.s.s, as the days hastened to their period when he should be received up _to glory_, that he resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem; (52)and sent messengers before his face; and they advancing entered into a Samaritan village, to make preparation for him. (53)And they would not admit him, because his face was directed to Jerusalem. (54)And when the disciples James and John saw it, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them, just as Elias did? (55)And turning to them, he reproved them, and said, Ye know not what spirit ye are of: (56)for the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to preserve them. And he proceeded to another village. (57)And it came to pa.s.s, as they were walking on the road, a certain person said to him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58)And Jesus Said to him, The foxes have holts, and the birds of the air, nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

(59)And he said to another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, permit me first to return home, and put my father in his grave. (60)And Jesus said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but go thou, preach the kingdom of G.o.d.

(61)Then said another, I will follow thee, Lord, but give me leave first to bid adieu to those at my house. (62)But Jesus said unto him, No man laying his hand on the plough, and looking to the things left behind, is fit for the kingdom of G.o.d.

CHAP. X.

THEN after these things the Lord appointed other seventy persons also, and sent them, two and two before his face, into every city and place, whither he himself designed to go. (2)He said therefore unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the labourers few: pray ye therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send out labourers into his harvest. (3)Go forth! behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (4)Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor sandals: and stay to salute no man on the road. (5)And into whatever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (6)And if the Son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it; but if not, it shall return back to you again. (7)And in the same family abide, eating and drinking such as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not about from house to house. (8)And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you: (9)and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of G.o.d is come nigh unto you.

(10)And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets of it, and say, (11)Even the dust of your city, which sticks to us, we shake off against you: nevertheless this know, that the kingdom of G.o.d is come near to you. (12)Now I tell you, that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in that day, than for that city.

(13)Wo to thee Chorazin! wo to thee Bethsaida! for if the miracles which have been done in thee, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, long ago sitting in sackcloth and ashes, would they have repented. (14)But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. (15)And thou Capernaum, which hast been lifted up to heaven, shalt be cast down to h.e.l.l. (16)He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth Him that sent me.

(17)Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name. (18)And he said unto them, I beheld Satan falling as lightning from heaven. (19)Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shalt in any wise hurt you. (20)Nevertheless, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are made subject to you; but rejoice rather, that your names are inscribed in the heavens.

(21)In the same hour Jesus exulted in spirit, and said, I ascribe glory to thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and intelligent, and hast revealed them to babes: be it so, O Father! since such is thy good pleasure. (22)All things are given up to me by my Father: and no man knoweth who is the Son, but the Father; and who is the Father, but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son is pleased to reveal him. (23)Then turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things which ye see: (24)for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

(25)And, behold, a certain doctor of the law arose, to make trial of him, saying, Master, by doing what shall I inherit eternal life?

(26)And he said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou?

(27)And he answering said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, and with all thy understanding, and thy neighbour as thyself." (28)And he said unto him, Thou hast answered rightly: this do, and thou shalt live. (29)Then he, desirous to make himself appear a righteous person, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? (30)Then Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who, when they had both stripped him, and covered him with wounds, got off, leaving him half dead. (31)And it so fell out, that a certain priest went down that way, and seeing him, he kept the opposite side of the road. (32)And a Levite also, in the same way, being near the place, came, and seeing him, kept the opposite side of the road.

(33)But a certain Samaritan travelling, came by him, and seeing him, was moved with compa.s.sion, (34)and coming up to him, bound up his wounds, after pouring on them oil and wine; then setting him on his own beast, he led him to an inn, and took particular care of him. (35)And on the morrow, as he was departing, he took out of his purse two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take great care of him; and whatever farther expence may be incurred, when I return, I will repay thee. (36)Which then of these three do you suppose to be the neighbour of him who fell into the robbers' hands? (37)And he said, He that shewed mercy towards him. Then said Jesus to him, Go, and do thou exactly the same.

(38)And it came to pa.s.s, as they were travelling, that he entered into a certain village; and a woman, named Martha, received him into her house. (39)And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting down also at the feet of Jesus, hearkened to his discourse. (40)But Martha was hurrying about to provide a large entertainment, and coming up to him, she said, Lord, is it no concern to thee, that my sister hath left me to make the whole provision by myself? bid her therefore to a.s.sist me.

(41)But Jesus answering said to her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disturbing thyself about many things. (42)But of one thing there is need: and Mary hath made her election of that good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.

CHAP. XI.

AND it came to pa.s.s, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. (2)And he said unto them, When ye pray say, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done as in heaven so upon earth. (3)Give us our necessary food, day by day: (4)and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one who is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation; but deliver us from the wicked one.

(5)And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and he shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; (6)for a friend of mine is come to me off a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. (7)And he from within answering, shall say, Give me no farther trouble: my door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I am unable to rise and give thee. (8)I tell you, though even he would not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity, roused up, he will give him as many as he needeth. (9)And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

(10)For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (11)For what father of you, if his son ask a loaf, will he give him a stone? or if a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (12)or if he ask also an egg, will he give him a scorpion? (13)If ye then, evil as ye are, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

(14)And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pa.s.s, when the devil was gone out, the dumb person spake, and the people marvelled. (15)But some of them said, He casteth out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (16)But others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. (17)But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house against a house, falleth. (18)And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom be established? because ye say, that I cast out devils by Beelzebub. (19)But if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. (20)But if with the finger of G.o.d I cast out devils, then, verily the kingdom of G.o.d is come unto you. (21)When a strong man, in complete armour, guards his palace, his goods are in peace. (22)But when a stronger person than he coming, vanquisheth him, he takes away his suit of armour in which he confided, and distributes the spoils.

(23)He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.

(24)When the unclean spirit goeth out of a man, he pa.s.ses through places dest.i.tute of water, seeking repose; and not finding it, saith, I will go back to my habitation from whence I came out: (25)and coming, he findeth it swept and furnished. (26)Then goeth he, and taketh seven other spirits, more wicked than himself; and they entering in, take up their abode there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

(27)And it came to pa.s.s as he was speaking these words, a certain woman from among the mult.i.tude lift up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the b.r.e.a.s.t.s which thou hast sucked.

(28)But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of G.o.d and observe it.

(29)Then the mult.i.tudes thronging around him, he began to say, This is a wicked generation: it seeketh a sign, and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. (30)For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man also be to this generation. (31)The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment against the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (32)The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, for they repented on the preaching of Jonah, and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

(33)But no man lighting a lamp putteth it in a concealed place, or under a bushel, but on a stand, that they who are coming in, may see the light. (34)The lamp of the body is the eye: when therefore thine eye is clear, thy whole body will be luminous, but if it be vitiated, thy whole body will be darkened. (35)Let it be thy aim then, that the light which is in thee do not become darkness. (36)If then thy whole body be illuminated, not having any dark part, it will be wholly luminous, as a lamp by its brightness diffuseth light.

(37)Now as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee invited him to dine with him; and going in with him, he sat down. (38)But the Pharisee seeing it, marvelled, that he had not washed before dinner. (39)Then said the Lord unto him, Now ye Pharisees make the outside of the cup and of the dish clean, but your inward parts are full of extortion and wickedness.

(40)Ye senseless men! did not he who made that which is without, make also that which is within? (41)But give what is within them for alms; and, lo! all will be pure unto you. (42)But wo to you, Pharisees, because ye t.i.the mint, and rue, and every herb, and pa.s.s by judgment and the love of G.o.d. These ought ye to have done, and not to have omitted the other. (43)Wo unto you, Pharisees, for ye love the first seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the places of public concourse. (44)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves concealed, which men, while walking over them, see not.

(45)Then one of the doctors of the law addressing him, said, Master, thus speaking, thou reproachest us also. (46)And he said, Wo also to you, teachers of the law! for ye load men with burdens hardly bearable, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

(47)Wo unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. (48)Ye do indeed bear witness to, and with pleasure concur in your fathers' deeds; for they truly killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. (49)Therefore also the wisdom of G.o.d hath said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall kill, and shall persecute: (50)that the blood of all the prophets, which hath been shed since the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation: (51)from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who was slain between the altar and the temple: verily I tell you, It shall be required of this generation. (52)Wo unto you, teachers of the law! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye yourselves enter not in, and those who were entering ye have hindered.

(53)And as he was saying these things unto them, the scribes and Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to extort answers from him respecting many things; (54)laying snares for him, and seeking to catch hold of something from his mouth, that they might accuse him.

CHAP. XII.

MEANTIME myriads of people collecting, so that they trod on one another, he began to speak to his disciples, Take heed princ.i.p.ally of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (2)For there is nothing concealed, that shall not be laid open; nor hid, which shall not be known. (3)Wherefore whatsoever things ye have spoken in darkness, they shall be reported in the light; and what ye have whispered into the ear in the closets, shall be proclaimed on the house-tops. (4)But I say to you my friends, Be not afraid of those who may kill the body, but after that, have nothing farther which they can do. (5)But I will point out to you, whom ye should fear: Fear him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into h.e.l.l; yea, I say unto you, Fear him! (6)Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, yet not one of them is forgotten before G.o.d? (7)But even the hairs of your head are all numbered: fear not then, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (8)But I tell you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him will the Son of man also confess before the angels of G.o.d: (9)but he that disowns me before men, shall be disowned before the angels of G.o.d. (10)And every one who shall utter a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but for him who hath blasphemed against the Holy Ghost, there shall be no forgiveness.

(11)And when they shall bring you before the synagogues, and magistrates, and the ruling powers, be under no anxiety how or what defence ye shall make, or what ye shall say: (12)for the Holy Ghost will teach you at that very hour what ye ought to say.

(13)Then spake one of the mult.i.tude to him, Master, order my brother to divide the inheritance with me. (14)But he said to him, Man, who made me a judge and a divider among you? (15)Then said he to them, Beware, and be on your guard against covetousness; for a man's life doth not depend on the abundance of his possessions. (16)And he spake a parable unto them, saying,

The estate of a certain rich man bore plentifully: (17)and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room where I may house my crops. (18)And he said, I will do this; I will take down my barns, and build them larger, and collect there all my crops, and my good things! (19)And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast a mult.i.tude of good things in store for many years, be at ease, eat, drink, and be merry! (20)But G.o.d said to him, Thou fool! this night shall they demand thy life from thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? (21)Just such is every one who heapeth up treasure for self, and is not rich towards G.o.d.

(22)Then said he to his disciples, For this reason I tell you, Be under no anxiety about your life, what ye shall eat, nor for your body, how ye shall be clothed. (23)The life is more than food, and the body than raiment. (24)Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; yet G.o.d feedeth them: how much are ye more excellent than the birds? (25)Which of you, with all his anxiety, can add one moment to his life? (26)If therefore ye are unable to do the least thing, why are ye anxious about the others? (27)Observe the lillies how they grow up, they toil not, nor spin; but I tell you, that Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. (28)If G.o.d then so clothe the gra.s.s in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is thrown into the furnace; how much more you, O ye of little faith?

(29)So then be not ye inquisitive what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor be agitated with restless anxiety. (30)For after all these things are the nations of the world seeking; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (31)But seek ye the kingdom of G.o.d, and all these things shall be given you over.

(32)Fear not, little flock! for your Father takes delight in giving you the kingdom. (33)Sell all your possessions, and give in charity; make yourselves purses that wax not old, a treasure never failing in the heavens, where no thief approaches, nor doth the moth destroy. (34)For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(35)Let your loins be firmly girded round, and your lamps burning: (36)and ye like men, expecting their master, when he shall return from the marriage; that when he comes and knocks, they may instantly open the door for him. (37)Blessed are those servants, whom the Master, when he cometh, shall find watchful: verily I say unto you, that he will gird up himself, and make them sit down at table, and come and wait upon them. (38)And if he come in the second watch, or in the third watch, and find them so watchful, blessed are those servants. (39)Now this be a.s.sured of, that if the master of the family had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. (40)Therefore be ye also ready, for at an hour that ye think not of, the Son of man cometh.

(41)Then said Peter unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable to us, or also for all? (42)And the Lord said, Who indeed is a faithful steward, and prudent, whom the lord will place over his household, to give them their proportion of provision at the proper season?