The first New Testament printed in English · Chapter 45The gospell of S. Luke (4)

This chapter is not translated yet. You are reading the original.

The same day there came certain of the pharisees, and said unto him: Get thee out of the way, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them: Go ye and tell that fox, behold I cast out devils, and heal the people to day and tomorrow, and the third day I make an end. Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow, and the day following: For it cannot be, that a prophet perish any other where, save at Ierusalem. O Ierusalem, Ierusalem, which killest prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee: how often would I have gathered thy children together, as the hen her nest under her wings, but thou wouldest not. Behold your habitation shall be left unto you desolate. For I tell you, ye shall not see me until the time come that ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the lord.

The .xiiij. Chapter.

And it chanced that he went into the house of one of the chief pharisees to eat bread, on a saboth day: and they watched him. And behold there was a man before him, which had the dropsy. And Iesus answered and spake unto the lawyers and pharisees, saying: is it lawful to heal on the saboth day? And they held their peace. He took the man and healed him, and let him go: And answered them saying: which of you shall have an ass, or an ox, fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the saboth day? And they could not answer him again to that.

He put forth a similitude to the guests, when he marked how they pressed to the highest rooms, and said unto them: When thou art bidden to a wedding of any man, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade both him and thee, come and say to thee: give this man room. And thou then begin with shame to take the lowest room. But rather when thou art bidden, go and sit in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee: friend sit up higher. Then shalt thou have praise in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself, shall be brought low. And he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that had desired to him to dinner: When thou makest a dinner, or a supper: call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor yet rich neighbours: lest they bid thee again, and make thee recompense. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, and thou shalt be happy: For they cannot recompense thee. But thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just men.

When one of them that sat at meat also heard that, he said unto him: happy is he that eateth bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he to him: A certain man ordained a great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper time, to say to them that were bidden, come: for all things are now ready. And they all at once began to make excuse. The first said unto him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it, I pray thee have me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to prove them, I pray thee have me excused. The third said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant went again, and brought his master word thereof.

Then was the good man of the house displeased, and said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and quarters of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said: lord it is done as thou commandedst, and yet there is room. And the lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden, shall taste of my supper.

There went a great company with him, and he turned and said unto them: If a man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, moreover and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever bear not his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you is he that is disposed to build a tower, and sitteth not down before and counteth the cost: Whether he have sufficient to perform it? lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to perform it, all that behold it, begin to mock him saying: This man began to build, and was not able to make an end. What king goeth to make battle against another king, and sitteth not down first, and casteth in his mind, whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand, or else while the other is yet a great way off, he will send ambassadors, and desire peace. So likewise, none of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, can be my disciple.

Salt is good, but if salt be corrupt, what shall be seasoned therewith? It is neither good for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, men cast it out at the doors. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The .xv. Chapter.

Then resorted unto him all the publicans and sinners, for to hear him. And the pharisees, and scribes grudged saying: He received to his company sinners, and eateth with them. Then put he forth this similitude to them saying: What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them doth not leave ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after him which is lost, until he find him? And when he hath found him, he putteth him on his shoulders with joy: And as soon as he cometh home he calleth together his lovers, and neighbours saying unto them: rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Other what woman having x. grotes, if she lose one, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently, till she find it? And when she hath found it she calleth her lovers, and her neighbours saying: Rejoice with me, for I have found the grote which I had lost. Likewise I say unto you, joy shall be in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

And he said: a certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father: father give me my part of the goods that to me belongeth. And he divided unto them his substance. And not long after, the younger son gathered all that he had together, and took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his goods with riotous living. And when he had spent all that he had, there rose a great dearth thorowout all that same land. And he began to lack. And he went, and clave to a citizen of that same country, which sent him to his field, to keep his swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the cods, that the swine ate: and no man gave him.

Then he came to himself and said: how many hired servants at my father's have bread enough, and I die for hunger. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him: father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, now am I not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran unto him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him: father I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, neither am I worthy henceforth to be called thy son. Then said the father to his servants: bring forth that best garment, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither that fatted calf, and kill him, and let us eat and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is now found. And they began to make good chear.

The elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard minstrelsy, and dancing, and called one of his servants, and asked what those things meant. He said unto him: thy brother is come, and thy father had killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in. Then came his father out, and entreated him, he answered and said to his father: Lo these many years have I done thee service, neither brake at any time thy commandment, and yet gavest thou me never so much as a kid to make merry with my lovers: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy goods with harlots, thou hast for his pleasure killed the fatted calf. And he said unto him: Son, thou wast ever with me, and all that I have is thine: it was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again: and was lost, and is found.

The .xvj. Chapter.

He said also unto his disciples. There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, that was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him: How is it, that I hear this of thee? Give accounts of thy stewardship. For thou mayest be no longer my steward. The steward said within himself: what shall I do? for my master will take away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg, I am ashamed. I wot what to do, that when I am put out of my stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Then called he all his master's debtors, and said unto the first: how much owest thou unto my master? And he said: an hundred tuns of oil, and he said to him: take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another: what owest thou? And he said: an hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this world, are in their kind, wiser than the children of light. And I say also unto you: make you friends of the wicked mammon, that when ye shall have need they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

He that is faithful in that which is least: the same is faithful in much. [And he that is unfaithful in the least: is unfaithful also in much.] So then if ye have not been faithful in the wicked mammon? who will believe you in that which is true? and if ye have not been faithful in another man's business: who shall give you your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God, and mammon.

All these things heard the pharisees also which were covetous. And they mocked him, and he said unto them: Ye are they, which justify yourselves before men: but God knoweth your hearts. For that which men magnify, is abominable in the sight of God.

The law, and the prophets reigned until the time of Ihon: Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached, and every man striveth to go in.

Sooner shall heaven and earth perish, than one tittle of the law shall perish. Whosoever forsaketh his wife, and marrieth another, breaketh matrimony. And every man which marrieth her that is divorced from her husband committeth advoutry also.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple, and fine rayons, and fared deliciously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, which lay at his gate full of sores desiring to be refreshed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's board. Nevertheless, the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it fortuned that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: The rich man also died, and was buried in hell.

When he lift up his eyes, as he was in torments, and he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, And 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. Abraham said unto him: Son remember, that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy pleasure, and contrariwise Lazarus pain. Now therefore is he comforted, and thou art punished. Beyond all this between you and us there is a great space set, so that they which would go from hence to you, cannot: neither from thence come hither.

And he said: I pray thee therefore father, send him to my father's house. For I have five brethren: for to warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him: they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said: nay father Abraham, but if one from the dead came unto them they would repent. He said unto him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, though one rose from death again.

The .xvij. Chapter.

Then said he to his disciples, it cannot be avoided, but that occasions of evil come. Nevertheless woe be to him thorow whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea, rather than he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to your selves, if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him: and if he repent, forgive him. And though he sin against thee seven times in one day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying: it repenteth me, forgive him.

And the Apostles said unto the lord: increase our faith. The lord said: if ye had faith like a grain of mustard seed, and should say unto this sycamine tree, pluck thyself up by the roots, and plant thyself in the sea: he should obey you.

Which of you having a servant a plowing, or feeding cattle, would say unto him when he were come from the field: Go quickly and sit down to meat. And rather sayeth not to him, dress wherewith I may sup, and appoint thyself and serve me, till I have eaten and drunk: and afterward, eat thou, and drink thou? Doeth he thank that servant because he did that which was commanded unto him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded unto you: say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.

And it chanced as he went to Ierusalem, that he passed thorow Samaria and Galile. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men, that were lepers, which stood afar off, and put forth their voices, and said: Iesu master, have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said unto them: Go and shew yourselves to the priests. And it chanced as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, turned back again, and with a loud voice praised God, and fell down on his face at his feet, and gave him thanks. And the same was a Samaritan. Iesus answered and said: Are there not ten cleansed? But where are those nine? There are not found that returned again, to give God praise, save only this stranger. And he said unto him: Arise, and go thy way, thy faith hath saved thee.

When he was demanded of the pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come: he answered them and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with waiting for. Neither shall men say, Lo here, lo there. For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

And he said unto the disciples: The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one day of the son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you: See here, See there. Go not after them, nor follow them, for as the lightning that appeareth out of the one part of the heaven, and shineth unto the other part of heaven. So shall the son of man be in his days. But first must he suffer many things, and be reproved of this nation.

As it happened in the time of Noe So shall it be in the time of the son of man. They ate, they drank, they married wives and were married even unto the same day that Noe went into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it chanced in the days of Lot. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. And even the same day that Lot went out of Zodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. After these ensamples, shall the day be, when the son of man shall appear. At that day he that is on the house top, and his stuff in the house: let him not come down to take it out. And likewise let not him that is in the fields, turn back again to that he left behind. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever will go about to save his life, shall lose it: And whosoever shall lose his life, shall quicken it.

I tell you: In that night, there shall be two in one bed, the one shall be received, and the other shall be forsaken. Two shall be also a grinding together: the one shall be received, and the other forsaken. And they answered, and said to him: where lord? And he said unto them: wheresoever The body shall be, thither will the eagles resort.

The .xviij. Chapter.

He put forth a similitude unto them, signifying that men ought always to pray, and not to be weary, saying: There was a Judge in a certain city, which feared not God neither regarded man. And there was a certain widow in the same city, which came unto him saying: Avenge me of mine adversary. And a great while he would not. Afterward he said unto himself: Though I fear not God, nor care for man, yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest at the last she come, and rail on me.

And the lord said: hear what the unrighteous judge sayeth. And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry night and day unto him? Yea though he defer them: I tell you, he will avenge them, and that quickly. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh, suppose ye, that he shall find faith on earth.

And he put forth this similitude, unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were perfect, and despised other. Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a pharisee, and the other a publican. The pharise stood and prayed thus with himself. God I thank thee that I am not as other are, extortioners, unjust, advoutrers, and even as the publican is. I fast twice in the week. I give tithe of all that I possess. And the publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying: God be mercyfull to me a sinner. I tell you: this man departed home to his house justified more than the other. For every man that exalteth himself, shall be brought low: And he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

They brought unto him also babes, that he should touch them. When his disciples saw that, they rebuked them. But Iesus called them unto him, and said: Suffer children to come unto me, and forbid them not. For unto such, belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you: whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God, as a child: he shall not enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him: saying: Good Master: what ought I to do, to obtain eternal life? Iesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? No man is good, save God only. Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not commit advoutry, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father, and thy mother. And he said: All these have I kept from my youth. When Iesus heard that, he said unto him: Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that thou hast, and distribute it unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me. When he heard that, he was heavy, for he was rich.

When Iesus saw him mourn, he said: with what difficulty shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God: Easier it is for a camel to pass thorow a needles eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Then said they that heard that: And who shall then be saved? He said: Things which are unpossible with men: are possible with God.

Then Peter said: Lo we have forsaken all, and have followed thee. He said unto them: Verily I say unto you, there is no man that forsaketh house, other father and mother, other brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, which same shall not receive much more in this world: and in the world to come, life everlasting.

He took unto him twelve, and said unto them: Lo we go up to Ierusalem, and all shall be fulfilled that are written by the prophets of the son of man. He shall be delivered unto the gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shall be despitefully entreated, and shall be spitted on: and when they have scourged him, they will put him to death, and the third day, shall he arise again. They understood none of these things. And this saying was hid from them. And they perceived not the things which were spoken.

It came to pass, as they were come nigh unto Iericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging. And when he heard the people pass by, he asked what it meant. They said unto him that Iesus of Nazareth, went by. And he cried, saying: Iesus the son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, because he should hold his peace. And he much the more cried, The son of David, have mercy on me. Iesus stood still, and commanded him, to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him saying: What wilt thou, that I do unto thee? And he said: lord, that I may receive my sight. Iesus said unto him: Receive thy sight: Thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he saw, and followed him, praising God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave laud to God.

The .xix. Chapter.

And he entered in, and went thorow Iericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, which was a ruler among the publicans, and rich also. And he made means to see Iesus, what he should be: and he could not for the press, because he was of a low stature. And he ran before, and ascended up, into a sycomore tree, to see him. For he would come that same way. And when Iesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him: Zache, come down at once, for today I must abide at thy house. And hastily he came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw that, they all grudged saying: He is gone, into tarry with a man that is a sinner.

Zache stood forth and said unto the lord: Behold lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have done any man wrong, I will restore him four fold. Iesus said to him: This day is health come unto this house, forasmuch as it also is become the child of Abraham. For the son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost.

As they heard these things, he added thereto a similitude, because he was nigh to Ierusalem, And because also, they thought that the kingdom of God should shortly appear. He said therefore: A certain noble man, went into a far country, to receive a kingdom, and then to come again. He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds saying unto them: Buy and sell till I come: But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.

And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded his servants, to be called to him (to whom he gave his money) to wit what every man had done. Then came the first saying: lord, thy pound hath increased ten pounds. And he said unto him: Well good servant, because thou wast faithful in a very little thing, Take thou authority over ten cities. And the other came saying: lord thy pound, hath increased five pounds. And to the same he said: And be thou also ruler over five cities. And the third came, and said: lord, behold here thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin, for I feared thee, because thou art a strait man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down, And reapest that thou didst not sow. And he said unto him: Of thine own mouth judge I thee thou evil servant. Knewest thou that I am a strait man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank? And then at my coming should I have required mine own, with vantage. And he said to them that stood by: Take from him that pound, and give it him that hath ten pounds. And they said unto him: lord he hath ten pounds. I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away. Moreover those mine enemies, which would not, that should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. And when he had thus spoken, he proceeded forth before them, and went up to Ierusalem.

And it fortuned, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, besides mount Olivete, he sent two of his disciples saying: Go ye in to the town which is over against you. In the which as soon as ye are come, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon, yet never man sat. Loose him and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, why that ye loose him: thus say unto him, The lord hath need of him.

They that were sent went their way, and found, even as he had said unto them. And as they were a loosing the colt, the owners said unto them: why loose ye the colt? And they said: for the lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Iesus. And they cast their raiment on the colt, and set Iesus thereon. And as he went they spread their clothes in the way.

When he was come where he should go down from the mount Olivete, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to laud God with a loud voice, for all the miracles that they had seen, saying: Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the lord: Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the pharisees of the company, said unto him: Master rebuke thy disciples. He answered, and said unto them: I tell you, if these hold their peace, the stones will cry.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept on it saying: If thou hadst known those things which belong unto thy peace, even at this day? But now are they hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, And thine enemies shall compass thee about with a bank. And shall besiege thee round about, and keep thee in on every side, And make thee even with the ground, with thy children which are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.