33

34

ོཚཆ ོ。

35

When her branch is already tender and is putting out its leaves.

You know that summer is near:

So also, when you see all this,

You know that He is near, at the doors.

I tell you truly, this generation shall not pass away

Till all these come to pass;

Sky and earth shall pass away,

But never shall my words pass away.

36 Yet of that day and hour none knows,

37

45

Not even the angels of the heavens, not even the Son, but the Father alone.
For as were the days of Noah,

So shall be the arrival of the Son of man :

For as in the days before the deluge they were feeding and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,

Up to the day that Noah entered the ark,

And knew nothing until the deluge came and swept them all away,
So shall be the arrival of the Son of man.

Then shall two men be in the field,

One is to be taken, one is to be left :

Two women shall be grinding with the mill-stone,
One is to be taken, one is to be left.

Watch then, for you know not on what day your Lord is coming.
Be sure of this; had the master of the house known the watch in
which the thief was coming,

He would have been on the alert, and would not have allowed his
house to be broken into.

Then be you also ready,

For in an unexpected hour the Son of man is coming.

Who then is the faithful and shrewd slave whom his owner has appointed over his household to give them their food in due season? 46 Happy that slave whom his owner shall find so doing, when he comes! 47, 48 I tell you truly, he will appoint him over all he has. But if that evil 49 slave says in his heart, 'My owner is delaying,' and shall start to beat 50 his fellow-slaves, and to eat and drink with drunkards, the owner of that slave shall come in a day when he does not look for him, and in an hour 51 when he does not know, and shall cut him in two and assign his part among the irreligious: there shall the weeping be, and the gnashing of 25 1 teeth. Then shall the reign of heaven be like ten maidens who 2 took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were 3 thoughtless, and five were shrewd. The thoughtless took their lamps 4 but took no oil with them; while the shrewd took oil in their vessels 5 with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all grew 6 drowsy and fell asleep. And at midnight a cry was raised, 'Here is the 7 bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those maidens rose 8 and trimmed their lamps. And the thoughtless said to the shrewd, 9 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' But the shrewd answered, Possibly there may not be enough for us and for you. 10 Better go to those who sell it and buy for yourselves.' Now while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; then those who were ready went with him into the marriage-feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterwards the other maidens also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us'; 12, 13 but he answered and said, 'I tell you truly, I do not know you.' Watch 14 then, for you know not the day nor the hour. For it is like a man 1 Omitting [[ixsívais]].

going abroad, who called his own slaves and handed over his property to 15 them. And he gave twelve hundred pounds to one, four hundred and eighty to another, two hundred and forty to another, to each man accord16 ing to his individual ability. Then he went abroad. Immediately, he who had got the twelve hundred went and traded with them and gained 17 twelve hundred more. In the same way, he who had got the four hundred 18 and eighty gained four hundred and eighty more. But he who had got the two hundred and forty went away and dug a hole in the ground 19 and hid his owner's money. Now after a long time the owner of those 20 slaves comes and settles his accounts with them. Then he who had got the twelve hundred came forward and brought twelve hundred more, saying, 'Sir, thou didst hand over twelve hundred pounds to me. Here 21 I have gained twelve hundred more.' His owner said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thine owner's feast.' 22 He who had got the four hundred and eighty also came forward and said, "Sir, thou didst hand over four hundred and eighty pounds to me. Here 23 I have gained four hundred and eighty more.' His owner said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thine owner's feast.' 24 Then he who had got the two hundred and forty also came forward and said, 'Sir, I knew thou wast a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, 25 and gathering where thou hast not winnowed. So in fear I went away and hid thy two hundred and forty pounds in the ground. Here, thou 26 hast what is thine.' His owner answered and said to him, 'O wicked and backward slave! Thou knowest that I reap where I have not sown, 27 and gather where I have not winnowed! Then thou oughtest to have placed my money with the bankers, and I would have gone and got my 28 own back with interest. Take away the two hundred and forty pounds from him, then, and give them to him who has the twelve hundred.'

29

30

31

32

33

For to everyone who has,

Shall be given, and amply given;

But from him who has not,

Even what he has shall be taken.

And throw out the useless slave into the outer darkness:
There shall the weeping be, and the gnashing of teeth.

When the Son of man comes in his majesty and all the angels with him,
Then shall he sit on the throne of his majesty, and before him all
the nations shall be gathered,

And he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 34 Then shall the king say to those on his right hand :

38

35

36

'Come, you who are blessed by my Father,

Inherit the realm prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I hungered and you gave me to eat,

I thirsted and you gave me drink,

I was a stranger and you entertained me,
Unclad and you clothed me,

I was ill and you visited me,

I was in prison and you came to me.'

37 Then shall the upright answer him, saying:

'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee? or thirsty and give thee drink?

38

39

And when did we see thee a stranger and entertain thee? or unclad and clothe thee?

And when did we see thee ill or in prison and come to thee?' 40 And the king shall answer and say to them: 'I tell you truly,

In so far as you did it to one of these my brothers, even to the least,
You did it to me.'

41 Then shall he say also to those on the left hand :

42

43

'Depart from me, accursed,

Into the fire eternal prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I hungered and you gave me not to eat,

I thirsted and you gave me no drink,

I was a stranger and you entertained me not,
Unclad and you clothed me not,

Ill and in prison and you visited me not.'

44 Then shall they also answer, saying:

'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or unclad or ill or in prison

And not minister to thee?'

45 Then shall he answer them, saying: 'I tell you truly,

46

26 1

In so far as you did it not to one of these least,

You did it not to me.'

And these shall go away into punishment eternal,
But the upright into life eternal.”

And it came to pass when Jesus finished all these words, he said to 2 his disciples, "You know the passover is to be held after two days, and 3 the Son of man is to be delivered up for crucifixion." Then the

high priests and the elders of the people met in the palace of the high 4 priest, who was called Kaiaphas; and they took counsel together to seize 5 Jesus by craft and kill him. But they said, "Not during the festival, lest a tumult arise among the people."

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster flask of expensive perfume; and 8 she proceeded to pour it on his head as he reclined at table. But when the disciples saw it they were indignant, saying, "What is this waste 9 for? This perfume might have been sold for a large sum, and given 10 to poor people." But when Jesus understood, he said to them, "Why 11 molest the woman? She has done a noble deed for me. For you have 12 the poor always beside you, but you have not always me. In pouring 13 this perfume on my body she acted in view of my burial. I tell you truly, Wherever these glad tidings shall be preached in the whole world, this woman's deed shall be also told in memory of her."

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called "Judas Iskariot," went to the 15 high priests and said, "What are you willing to pay me, and I will betray him to you." So they weighed out for him thirty silver pieces. 16 And from that time he sought an opportune moment for betraying him.

17

Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where wilt thou have us make ready for thee to eat the 18 paschal lamb?" Then he said, "Go your way into the city to such and such a man and say to him, 'The teacher says, "My time is near; I will 19 keep the passover with my disciples at thy house.""" So the disciples did 20 as Jesus instructed them, and made ready the passover. Now when it 21 was evening, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, he said, "I tell you truly, one of you shall betray me."

22 Then in exceeding sorrow each one began to say to him, "Can it be 23 I, Lord?" He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goes on his way, even as it is written of him.

But woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed!
Better for that man had he never been born!"

25 Judas, his betrayer, answered and said, "Can it be I, Rabbi ?" He says to
26 him, "It is as thou sayest."
Now as they were eating, Jesus took
bread; and after the blessing, he broke and gave it to the disciples, saying,
27"Take, eat; this is my body." Also he took a cup, and after giving
28 thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my
covenant-blood which is poured out for many, for the remission of sins.
29 I tell you, never shall I drink in future of this produce of the vine, till
that day when in my Father's reign I drink it with you new."

30 Thereupon after a song of praise they went out to the hill of Olives. 31 Then Jesus says to them, "You shall be all repelled through me, this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the 32 flock shall be scattered abroad. Yet after I rise, I will go before you into 33 Galilee." Peter answered and said to him, "Should all be repelled 34 through thee, never will I be repelled." Jesus said to him, "I tell thee

truly, this night, before the cock crows, three times thou shalt deny me." 35 "Even if I have to die with thee," says Peter to him, "I will not deny 36 thee." And all the disciples said the same. Then Jesus comes

with them to a piece of ground called Gethsemanê. And he says to his 37 disciples, "Sit there, until I depart yonder and pray." And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful 38 and sorely troubled. Then he says to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, 39 even to death: stay here and watch with me.' ." So he went forward a little and fell on his face in prayer, saying, "My Father! if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, 40 but as thou wilt." Then coming to the disciples he finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, "So you had not strength to watch with me a single 41 hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation: the spirit is 42 eager, but the flesh is weak." Again he went away for a second time and

prayed, saying, "My Father! if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, 43 thy will be done." And on coming again he found them sleeping, for their 44 eyes were heavy. And leaving them he again went away and prayed for 45 a third time, repeating the same words. Then coming to the disciples he says to them, "So you sleep and rest? Behold, the hour is near, 46 when the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners! Rise, let us 47 be going. Behold, my betrayer is near!" And when he was still

speaking, behold Judas (one of the twelve) came, accompanied by a large horde with swords and clubs, from the high priests and elders of the 48 people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomsoever 49 I kiss, that is the man; seize him." So he immediately approached 50 Jesus, saying, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him fondly. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do thine errand." Then they approached and laid hands 51 on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of the companions of Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, smote the slave of the high priest 52 and cut off his ear. Then Jesus says to him, "Put back thy sword into 53 its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword. What! dost thou think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will provide me 54 at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But how then 55 should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must come to pass?" At

that hour Jesus said to the hordes, "Did you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest me? Day by day I sat in the 56 temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But the whole of this has come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then the disciples all left him alone and fled.

57

Now those who had seized Jesus led him away to Kaiaphas the high 58 priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. Peter followed him from afar, up to the palace of the high priest; then he went inside 59 and sat with the officers to see the end. Now the high priests and in fact the whole Sanhedrin sought for false witness against Jesus that they 60 might get him put to death; but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However two men came forward at last, 61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to break down the sanctuary 62 of God, and to build it after three days.' And the high priest stood up and said to him, "Hast thou no answer? Of what do these men bear 63 evidence against thee?" Jesus kept silence. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure thee by the living God! Tell us if thou art the 64 Christ, the Son of God?" Jesus says to him, "It is as thou sayest. Yet I tell you, in future you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right 65 hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high

priest rent his vestments, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further 66 witnesses do we need? Look now, you heard the blasphemy; what 67 do you think?" They said in reply, "He is doomed to die." Then 68 they spat on his face and buffeted him, and some dealt him blows, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who was it that struck thee?"

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant 70 came to him, saying, "Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I know not what thou meanest." 71 And when he went out into the porch, another maidservant saw him; and she says to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus 72 the Nazarene." And again he denied with an oath, "I know not 73 the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to

Peter, "To be sure, thou art one of them too; for indeed thy speech 74 betrays thee." Thereupon he began to loudly curse and swear, "I know 75 not the man." And immediately the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said, "Before the cock crows, three times shalt thou deny me." And he went out, and bitterly he wept.

66

27 1 Now when morning came, all the high priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, in order to get him put to death; 2 and after binding him they led him away and delivered him up to Pilate 3 the procurator. Then seeing that he was condemned, Judas his betrayer repented; and he returned the thirty silver pieces to the high 4 priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." 5 What is that to us?" they said; "that is thy concern!" Then throwing down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he retired, and 6 went away and hanged himself. Now when the high priests took the silver pieces, they said, "It is not right to put them into the sacred 7 treasury, since they are the price of blood.'" So after taking counsel they bought with them the potter's field as a burying-place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called to this day, "Field of blood." 9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, when he said: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the price of him who 10 had been appraised, whom some of the sons of Israel appraised, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord instructed me.