Luke

1   Seeing that many have taken it upon themselves to compile a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as they were passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning, and who have become attendants of the account, it also seemed good to me, having followed everything closely from the first, to write accurately and step by step for you^-, most excellent Theophilus, so that you^- may recognise the certainty of the message with which you’ve^- been instructed.

    It came to be, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, that there was a priest named Zacharias, from the daily service division of Abiyah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheba. And they were both righteous in the sight of God, having walked blamelessly in all the commands and regulations of the lord^a [Yahweh]. But they didn’t have any children because Elisheba was barren. And both of them were advanced in their days.

    And it came to be that he was performing his priestly duties in the setting up of the daily temple service in front of God. According to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to burn incense. And he’d entered the temple of the lord^a [Yahweh], with all the multitude of the people praying outside at the hour of incense. And a messenger of the lord^a [Yahweh] appeared to him there, standing on the right of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was disturbed, and fear fell on him. And the messenger said to him, “Don’t be afraid Zacharias, because your^- petition has been heard, and your^- wife Elisheba will bear you^- a son, and you’ll^- name him Yohannes. And there’ll be joy and exultation for you^-. And many will rejoice at his birth, for he’ll be great in the sight of the lord^a [Yahweh].

    But he may not drink wine or fermented liquor. And he’ll be filled with the holy spirit while he’s still in the belly of his mother. And he’ll turn back many of the sons of Yisrael to the lord^a [Yahweh] their god. And he’ll go ahead of him in the spirit and power of Eliyah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to righteous thoughtfulness. And when he’s equipped the people, to make them ready for the lord^a [Yahweh].”

    And Zacharias said to the messenger, “How will I know this? For I’m old and my wife is also advanced in her days.” And answering, the messenger said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in front of God, and I’ve been sent to speak to you^-, and to bring you^- this good news. Look! You’ll^- be silent and unable to speak until the day these things come to be — because you^- didn’t trust my messages, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

    And the people who’d been expecting Zacharias wondered why he was taking so long in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realised that he’d seen a vision in the temple, and he was making signs to them but he remained mute.

    And it came to be, as the days of his ministry were completed, that he went to his house. And after these days Elisheba, his wife, conceived. But she kept herself concealed for five months, saying, “The lord^a [Yahweh] has done this thing for me — in these days he’s looked upon me and taken away my reproach among the people.”

    And in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee which was named Nazareth, to a virgin who’d been promised in marriage to a man whose name was Yosef, from the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Maria. And when he entered, the messenger said to her, “Rejoice. You’ve^- been highly favoured. The lord^a [Yahweh] is with you^-. You^- are blessed among women.”

    But when she saw him she was confused because of his message, and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be. And the messenger said to her, “Don’t be afraid Maria. For you’ve^- found grace with God. Look! You’ll^- conceive in your^- belly, and you’ll^- bring forth a son, and you’ll^- name him Yeshua. He’ll be great, and he’ll be called a son of the highest. And the lord^a [Yahweh] God will give him the throne of David his forefather. And he’ll reign over the house of Yaakov into the ages, and his kingdom will never end.”

    And Maria said to the messenger, “How will this be since I haven’t been intimate^b with a man?” And answering, the messenger said to her, “The holy spirit will come upon you^-, and the power of the highest will overshadow you^- — and so the holy one being conceived will be called the son of God. And look! Elisheba your^- relative has herself also conceived a son in her old age. And this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ‘Because nothing will be impossible with God.’” And Maria said, “Look! I’m the slave of the lord^a [Yahweh]. May it be to me according to your^- declaration.” And the messenger left her.

    And in those days, Maria got up and went quickly into the mountainous region, to a town of Judea, and when she’d entered the house of Zacharias, she greeted Elisheba. And it came to be, that as Elisheba heard Maria’s greeting, the baby inside her belly leapt, and Elisheba was filled with the holy spirit. And she called out with a loud voice, and said, “You^- are blessed among women, and the fruit of your^- belly is also blessed. And where is this from, that the mother of my lord should come to me? For look! When the voice of your^- greeting came to my ears, the baby in my belly leaped in exultation. And the one who has trusted that there will be a fulfilment of what the lord^a [Yahweh] has spoken to her is blessed.”

    And Maria said, “My soul magnifies the lord^a [Yahweh], and my spirit rejoices exceedingly in God my saviour. Because he gives attention to the humiliation of his slave. For look! From now on all generations will declare me to be blessed — for he who’s able has done great things for me, and his name is holy. And his mercy is on generations of generations of those who fear him. He’s done mighty things with his arm. He’s scattered the arrogant by the understanding of their hearts. He’s taken rulers down from thrones, and he’s exalted the humble. He’s filled the hungry with good things, and he’s sent the rich away empty. He’s accepted his servant^d Yisrael to remind himself of mercy. Just as he said to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed into the age.”

    And Maria stayed with her for about three months, and then returned to her house. And the time was fulfilled for Elisheba to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbours and relatives heard that the lord^a [Yahweh] had magnified his mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

    And it came to be, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child. And they named him the same as his father — Zacharias. But answering, his mother said, “No! He’ll be called Yohannes.” And they said to her, “There’s nobody among your^- kinsmen who’s called by this name.” And they made signs to his father to see what he wanted to call him. And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, “His name is Yohannes.” And they all marvelled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these declarations were talked about throughout all the mountainous region of Judea. And all who heard it placed it in their heart saying, “Then what will this child be?” And the hand of the lord^a [Yahweh] was with him.

    And Zacharias his father was filled with the holy spirit, and he prophesied saying, “The lord^a [Yahweh], the god of Yisrael is blessed, because he’s visited us and made a ransom for his people. And he’s raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant^d David — as he’s said through the mouth of his holy prophets from the age. Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us — to have mercy on our fathers and to remind himself of his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our forefather to give to us — having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him fearlessly, in piety and righteousness in his sight, all the days of our life.

    And you^- child, you’ll^- be called a prophet of the highest, for you’ll^- go ahead of the lord^ea [Yahweh] to prepare his ways. To give the knowledge of salvation to his people in the pardoning of their sins. Through the heart^f of mercy of our god, by which the rising sun visits us from on high — to appear to those who sit in the darkness and the shadow of death, to align our feet to the way of peace.”

    And the child grew up and was strong in spirit, and he was in the wildernesses until the day of his proclamation to Yisrael.

2   And it came to be, that in those days a decree by Caesar Augustus went out, that all the inhabited world should be registered. This was the first registration, when Quirinius had become governor of Syria. And everyone went to be registered, each one to their own town. And Yosef went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, into Judea, into the town of David, (which is called Bethlehem), because he was from the house and lineage of David, to be registered together with Maria, who’d been promised in marriage to him as a wife, and who was expecting a child.

    And it came to be, that while they were there the days of her giving birth were completed. And she gave birth to her son, the firstborn, and wrapped him in cloths, and laid him on his back in the feeding trough — because there was no place for them in the lodging.

    And there were shepherds in that region, living out in the countryside and guarding their flock. And look! A messenger of the lord^a [Yahweh] stood among them, and the glory of the lord^a [Yahweh] shone around them, and they were afraid with great fear. And the messenger said to them, “Don’t be afraid! For look! I’m bringing good news to you⁼, great joy which will be to all the people. Today, in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you⁼, who’s the Anointed, the lord. And this will be a sign to you⁼ — you’ll⁼ find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding trough.”

    And suddenly there came to be, together with the messenger, a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest places, and peace on the earth, and delight among people.”

    And it came to be, when the messengers had gone away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said to one another, “We should pass through to Bethlehem so we may see this declaration that has come to be, which the lord^a [Yahweh] has made known to us.” And hurrying, they went and they found both Maria and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.

    And when they’d seen it, they spread the news concerning the declaration which had been spoken to them about this child. And everyone who heard marvelled at the things which were being said to them by the shepherds. But Maria kept all these declarations, tossing them over in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they’d seen and heard — just as it’d been said to them.

    And when the eight days were completed to circumcise him, he was named Yeshua, as he’d been called by the messenger before he’d been conceived in the belly. And when their days of purification were completed, according to the law of Moshe, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the lord^a [Yahweh] — just as it’s been written in the law of the lord^a [Yahweh], that every male who opens the womb will be called “holy to the lord^a [Yahweh]” — and to give a sacrifice according to what’s said in the law of the lord^a [Yahweh] — a pair of turtle doves or two pigeon chicks.

    And look. There was a person in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this person was righteous and devout, and he was anticipating the aid of Yisrael, and the holy spirit was on him. And he’d been informed by the holy spirit that he wouldn’t see death until he’d seen the Anointed of the lord^a [Yahweh]. And he came in the spirit into the temple, to where the parents were bringing in the child Yeshua, to do for him according to the custom of the law. And he himself took him in his arms,and he blessed God and said, “Now owner you^- release your^- slave according to your^- declaration, in peace, because my eyes have seen your^- salvation^b, which you’ve^- prepared before the face of all the peoples. A light for the revelation of the nations, and glory for your^- people Yisrael.”

    And Yosef and his mother marvelled at the things that were being spoken about him. And Simeon blessed them, and he said to Maria his mother, “Look! This one is laid here for the fall and resurrection of many in Yisrael, and for a sign that’ll be spoken against. And as for you^- — a large sword will even pass through your^- soul, so that the thinking of many hearts may be revealed.”

    And Hannah was there, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was greatly advanced in days, and she’d lived with her husband for seven years since her virginity, and she was a widow for eighty four years. She hadn’t withdrawn from the temple, but she served night and day with fasts and petitions. And she’d stood there this very hour, and made an agreement with the lord. And she spoke about him to all those in Jerusalem who were anticipating a redemption. And when they’d finished everything, according to the law of the lord^a [Yahweh], they returned to Galilee, to their own town — Nazareth. And the child grew up, and he became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

    And every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover^c. And when he came to be twelve years old, and they’d gone up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the festival, and when the days had finished, as they returned, the child Yeshua remained behind in Jerusalem. And Yosef and his mother didn’t know it, but presuming that he was in their group of travellers, they went on their way for a day. But when they’d hunted for him among those who were related, and among the people they knew, and hadn’t found him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

    And it came to be, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, and listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard him were amazed at his understanding and at his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child! Why have you^- done this to us? Look! Your^- father and I were looking for you^-, suffering.” And he said to them, “Why were you⁼ looking for me? Haven’t you⁼ perceived that I have to be about the things of my father?” But they themselves didn’t understand the declaration which he was speaking to them.

    And he went down with them and he came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. But his mother faithfully kept all these declarations in her heart. And Yeshua advanced in wisdom, and stature, and favour^d with both God and people.

3   Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch^a of Galilee, and his brother Philippos was tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, and Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests — a declaration of God came to Yohannes, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the surrounding area of the Jordan proclaiming an immersion of repentance, for the pardoning of sins. As it’s been written in the message of the scroll of the prophet Yisheyah, saying, “A voice of one who shouts in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the lord^b [Yahweh]. Make his tracks straight. Every ravine will be filled in, every mountain and hill will be made low^c, the winding will be made straight, and the rugged into smooth paths. And all flesh will see the salvation^d of God.’”

    Then he said to those crowds who were coming out to be baptized by him, “Offspring of vipers! Who told to you⁼ to flee from the impending wrath? Produce fruit worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you⁼ that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones. And the axe has already been laid against the root of the trees. So every tree which doesn’t produce quality fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    And the crowds inquired of him, saying, “So what should we do?” And answering, he said to them, “Let the one who has two tunics share with the one who has none. Let the one who has food do likewise.”

    And tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, “Teacher. What should we do?” And he said to them, “Don’t collect anything more than the prescribed amount.”

    And then some soldiers inquired of him, saying, “And us? What should we do?” And he said to them, “Don’t intimidate or extort anyone — but be satisfied with the rewards of your⁼ service.”

    And while the people were expecting and reasoning everything in their hearts — as to whether or not Yohannes himself might be the Anointed, Yohannes answered all, saying, “Indeed, I immerse you⁼ in water, but the one who’s stronger than me is coming, of whom I’m not adequate to loosen the strap of his sandals. He himself will immerse you⁼ in the holy spirit and in fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he’ll thoroughly clear his threshing floor, and will gather the grain into his storehouse. But he’ll burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

    Indeed then, entreating many different things, he brought the good news to the people. And Herod the tetrarch^a, who’d been exposed by him — about Herodias, the wife of his brother Philippos, and about all the wicked things Herod had done — added this to everything — he locked Yohannes up in jail.

    And it came to be, that when all the people were immersed, Yeshua was also immersed. And while he was praying, the sky was opened up and the holy spirit, in bodily form, came down on him like a dove. And there was a voice from the sky saying, “You’re^- my beloved son. I’m delighted with you^-.”

    And Yeshua himself was about thirty years old when he began. He was the son, so it was presumed, of Yosef,

    of Heli,

    of Matthat,

    of Levi,

    of Melki,

    of Yannai,

    of Yosef,

    of Mattathias,

    of Amos,

    of Nahum,

    of Esli,

    of Naggai,

    of Maath,

    of Mattathais,

    of Semein,

    of Yosef,

    of Yehuda,

    of Yoanan,

    of Rhesa,

    of Zerubbabel,

    of Shealtiel,

    of Neri,

    of Melki,

    of Addi,

    of Cosam,

    of Elmadam,

    of Er,

    of Yoses,

    of Eliezer,

    of Yorim,

    of Matthat,

    of Levi,

    of Simeon,

    of Yehuda,

    of Yosef,

    of Yonan,

    of Eliakim,

    of Melea,

    of Mainan,

    of Mattatha,

    of Nathan,

    of David,

    of Yishay,

    of Obed,

    of Boaz,

    of Salmon,

    of Nahshon,

    of Aminadab,

    of Aram,

    of Esrom,

    of Perez,

    of Yehuda,

    of Yaakov,

    of Yitshak,

    of Abraham,

    of Terah,

    of Nahor,

    of Serug,

    of Ragau [Reu],

    of Peleg,

    of Eber,

    of Shelah,

    of Cainan,

    of Arphaxad,

    of Shem,

    of Noah,

    of Lamech,

    of Methuselah,

    of Enoch,

    of Yared,

    of Mahalaleel,

    of Cainan,

    of Enosh,

    of Seth,

    of Adam,

    of God.

4   And Yeshua, full of the holy spirit, returned from the Jordan, and he was led in the spirit into the wilderness — where he was tested by Diabolos^a for forty days. And he didn’t eat anything throughout those days, and after they were concluded he was hungry.

    And Diabolos said to him, “If you’re^- the son of God then speak to this stone so that it may become a loaf of bread.” And Yeshua answered him, saying, “It’s been written that a person shouldn’t only live on bread, but on every declaration of God.”

    And leading him up into a high mountain, Diabolos, in an instant, showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited world. And Diabolos said to him, “I’ll give you^- authority over all this, and their glory, because it’s been given to me, and I can give it to whomever I want to give it. You^- then, if you^- worship^b in front of me, this will all be yours^-.” And answering him Yeshua said, “Go away, behind me Satan!^c It’s been written, ‘You’ll^- worship the lord^d [Yahweh] your^- god, and you’ll^- serve only him.’”

    And he led him into Jerusalem and stood him on the wing of the temple, and said to him, “If you’re^- the son of God then throw yourself down from here. For it’s been written, ‘His messengers will be commanded about you^-, to guard you^- closely. And they’ll lift you^- up in their arms — otherwise you^- might strike your^- foot on a stone.’” And answering, Yeshua said to him, “It’s been said, ‘Don’t test the lord^d [Yahweh] your^- god.’”

    And having concluded every trial, Diabolos withdrew from him, until the right time. And Yeshua returned to Galilee in the power of the spirit, and rumour about him spread throughout the whole of the surrounding area. And he himself taught in their synagogues, and was glorified by all.

    And he came to Nazareth, where he’d been brought up, and as was his custom, he entered into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath^e, and he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Yisheyah was handed to him, and when he’d unrolled the scroll he found the place where it’d been written, “The spirit of the lord^d [Yahweh] is on me because he’s anointed me to bring the good news to the poor. He’s sent me to heal those whose hearts have been crushed, to proclaim a pardon for captives and sight for the blind, to send off the broken — pardoned, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the lord^d [Yahweh].”

    And rolling the scroll back up and giving it back to the attendant, he sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were looking intently at him. And he began to say to them, “Today this writing has been fulfilled in your⁼ hearing^f.” And everyone testified of him, and they marvelled at the messages of grace which were coming out of his mouth. And they said, “Isn’t this the son of Yosef?”

    And he said to them, “You’ll⁼ undoubtedly say this analogy to me, ‘Physician, cure yourself! And do those things which we heard that you^- did in Capernaum, here in your^- home town^g.’” Then he said “Amen^h, I say to you⁼ that no prophet is accepted in his home townⁱ.

    In truth I say to you⁼, there were many widows in Yisrael in the days of Eliyah, when the sky was was closed up for three years and six months so that a great famine came on all the land. But Eliyah wasn’t sent to any of them, except to a woman, a widow, in Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Yisrael in the time of the prophet Elisha, but not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.”

    And all of those in the synagogue were filled with fury when they heard these things. And rising up, they drove him out of the town, and they took him to the brow of the mountain on which their town had been built, intending to throw him over the edge. But, passing through the middle of them, he went away.

    And he went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and he taught them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at his teaching, because his message was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a person with an unclean spirit of a demon. And it cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Ha! What are we to you^-, Yeshua the Nazarene? Have you^- come to destroy us? I know you^-, who you^- are — the holy one of God.” But Yeshua rebuked it, saying, “Be silenced^j! And come out from him!”

    And the demon tossed him into the middle, and came out of him without harming him. And awe come upon them all, and they conversed with one another, saying, “What’s this message — that he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out?” And talk about him spread to every place in the surrounding area.

    And when he’d risen up out of the synagogue, Yeshua entered into the house of Shimon. And Shimon’s mother-in-law was constrained by a high fever, and they asked him about her. And standing over her, he rebuked the fever and it left her. And immediately, she got up and served them.

    As the sun was going down, all those who were ill with various diseases were brought to him, and he placed his hands on each one of them and cured them. And demons came out from many of them, crying out and saying, “You’re^- the Anointed, the son of God.” But he rebuked them, and he didn’t let them speak because they knew that he was the Anointed.

    When it became day, he went into a desolate place. But the crowds sought after him, and they came up to him and held him back — so he wouldn’t leave them. But he said to them, “I also have to bring the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns, because this is why I’ve been sent.” And he was proclaiming throughout the synagogues of Galilee.

5   And it came to be, as he was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret^a, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the message of God, that he saw two boats standing by the lake, and the fishermen who’d stepped off them were washing off their nets. And stepping into one of the boats, which was Shimon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down, and he taught the crowds from the boat.

    And when he’d finished speaking, he said to Shimon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your⁼ nets to make a catch.” But answering, Shimon said to him, “Master, we’ve laboured all through the night but we haven’t taken anything. But because you^- say so, I’ll lower the net. And when he’d done so they netted a great multitude of fish, and their net was tearing. And they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and they filled both the boats so full that they were being swamped.

    And when he saw this, Shimon Petros fell down at the knees of Yeshua, saying, “Lord, go away from me because I’m a sinful man!” Because awe had engulfed him, (and all those who were with him), at the catch of fish which they’d taken together. Likewise, Yaakov and Yohannes, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Shimon. But Yeshua said to Shimon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you’ll^- catch people.” And when they’d landed the boats on the shore, they left everything behind and they followed him.

    And it came to be, when he was in one of the towns. Look! There was a man filled with leprosy. And when he saw Yeshua he fell down on his face, and he pleaded with him, saying, “Lord, if you’re^- willing, you’re^- able to cleanse me.” And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I’m willing. Be cleansed.” And the leprosy left him straightaway. And he instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go off and show yourself to the priest, and present what’s prescribed by Moshe for your^- cleansing, as a testimony to them.” But the message about him spread even more. And many crowds came together to hear, and to be cured from their illnesses by him. But he would retreat into the wilderness and pray.

    And it came to be in one of those days, that he was teaching, and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting with those who’d come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem. And the power of the lord^b [Yahweh] was there for healing them. And look! There were men who were carrying a person who’d been paralysed, on a mat, and they tried to carry him in and place him in front of him. But when they couldn’t find a way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up onto the rooftop and they lowered him down through the tiles, together with the mat, into the middle, in front of Yeshua.

    And when he saw their faith he said to him, “Man! Your^- sins have been pardoned to you^-.” And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who’s speaking evil? Who’s able to pardon sins except God alone!” And, having realised what they were thinking, Yeshua, answering, said to them, “Why are you⁼ reasoning in your⁼ hearts? Which is easier — to say ‘Your^- sins have been pardoned to you^-’, or to say ‘Be raised up and walk’? But, so that you⁼ may see that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to pardon sins...”, he said to the one who’d been paralysed, “I say to you^-, be raised up, and pick up your^- mat, and go to your^- house.” And immediately he rose up in front of them, picked up what he’d been laid on, and went away to his house, glorifying God. And astonishment took them all, and they glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying, “We’ve seen unexplainable things today.”

    And after these things he went out and looked at a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me!” And he got up, and left everything behind, and he followed him. And he made a great reception for him at his house. And there was a crowd of many tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees murmured to his disciples, saying, “Why do you⁼ eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And answering, Yeshua said to them, “The healthy have no need of a physician, but the sick do. I haven’t come to call the righteous, but sinners, into repentance.”

    But they said to him, “Why do the disciples of Yohannes often fast and make petitions, likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours^- eat and drink?” But he said to them, “You⁼ can’t make the sons of the wedding chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you⁼? But days are coming when the bridegroom will have been taken away from them — then they’ll fast in those days.”

    And he also spoke an analogy to them, “Nobody puts a patch of new cloak on an old cloak. Surely not. If you^- do, the new will tear away. And also the new won’t match the old. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins. Surely not. If you^- do, the new wine will burst the wineskins and it’ll be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine has to be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved together. And nobody who has drunk old wine wants new wine straightaway, for he says, ‘the old is better.’”

6   And it came to be, on the second-first Sabbath^a, as they passed through some grain fields, that his disciples picked some ears of grain and, rubbing them between their hands, they ate them. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you⁼ doing what isn’t permitted to be done on the Sabbaths?” And answering them, Yeshua said, “Haven’t you⁼ ever read this — what David did once when he himself and those with him were hungry? How he entered into the house of God, and he took the bread which had been placed there, and he ate what isn’t permitted to be eaten, except by the priests. And he also gave some to those who were with him.” He also said to them, “The Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath.”

    And it came to be, on a different Sabbath, when he’d entered into the synagogue and was teaching, that a person was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely, whether he’d cure on the Sabbath, so they could find an accusation against him. But he knew their thinking, and he said to the person who had the withered hand, “Get up, and stand up in the middle.” And he rose up and stood there. Then Yeshua said to them, “I’ll inquire of you⁼. Which is permitted on the Sabbaths — to do good or to do evil? To save a life or to kill?” And when he’d looked around at all of them he said to the person, “Stretch out your^- hand.” And he did, and his hand was restored, as sound as the other. But they were all filled with foolishness, and they discussed with one another what they might do to Yeshua.

    And it came to be in those days, that he went out into the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when it became day, he called his disciples and selected twelve from among them, whom he also named ambassadors, Shimon, (whom he also named Petros), and Andreas, his brother, Yaakov and Yohannes, Philippos, and Bartholomaios, Matthaios, and Thomas, Yaakov of Alpheus, and Shimon, (the one called the Zealot), Yehuda of Yaakov, and Yehuda Iscarioth, who also became a traitor.

    And when he’d gone back down with them, he stood on a flat area. And there was a crowd of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all of Judea, and Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who’d come to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those who were troubled by unclean spirits. And they were cured. And the whole crowd were seeking to touch him because power was coming out of him and it was healing everyone.

    And lifting up his eyes to his disciples he said, “The poor are blessed — because the kingdom of God is yours⁼. Those who are hungry now are blessed — because you’ll⁼ be satisfied. Those who are weeping now are blessed — because you’ll⁼ laugh. And whenever people hate you⁼, you’re⁼ blessed. And whenever they exclude you⁼, and they reproach you⁼, and discard your⁼ name as wicked on account of the Son of Man — rejoice in that day and leap. For look! Your⁼ reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did these things to the prophets.

    Except woe to you⁼ rich people, because you’re⁼ collecting your⁼ consolation in full. Woe to you⁼ who’ve been filled, because you’ll⁼ be hungry. Woe to you⁼ who laugh now, because you’ll⁼ mourn and weep. Woe to you⁼ whenever all people speak well of you⁼, for their fathers did the same to the false prophets.

    But I say to you⁼ who are listening, love your⁼ enemies. Do good to those who hate you⁼. Bless those who curse you⁼. Pray for those who threaten you⁼. And offer your^- other cheek as well to the one who strikes you^- on the cheek. And don’t prevent the one who takes away your^- cloak from also taking your^- tunic. Give to all who request from you^-. And don’t demand anything back from the one who takes your⁼ things away. And just as you⁼ want people to do to you⁼, do likewise to them.

    And if you⁼ love those who love you⁼, how is that grace to you⁼? For even the sinners love those who love them. And even if you⁼ do good to those who do good to you⁼, how is that grace to you⁼? For sinners do the same. And even if you⁼ lend to those from whom you⁼ expect repayment, how is that grace to you⁼? For sinners lend to sinners so they’ll get equivalent things back.

    But love your⁼ enemies, and do good, and lend without expecting anything. And your⁼ reward will be great, and you’ll⁼ be sons of the highest, because he himself is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. So then, become compassionate just as your⁼ father is compassionate.

    And don’t judge, and you⁼ won’t be judged at all. And don’t convict, and you⁼ won’t be convicted at all. And let others go free, and you’ll⁼ be allowed to go free. Give, and it’ll be given to you⁼ — a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be given into your⁼ lap. For with the same measure you⁼ measure with, it’ll be measured back to you⁼.”

    And he spoke this analogy to them, “A blind person isn’t able to lead a blind person, are they? Won’t both fall into the pit? A disciple isn’t above his teacher, but everyone who has been fully instructed will be like their teacher.

    And why do you^- look at the twig in the eye of your^- brother, but you^- don’t observe the beam of timber in your^- own eye? Or how are you^- able to say to your^- brother, ‘Brother, allow me to get that twig out of your^- eye’ — you^- yourself don’t observe the beam of timber in your^- own eye. Hypocrite. First get the beam out of your^- eye, and then you’ll^- see clearly to get the twig from the eye of your^- brother.

    For a quality tree doesn’t produce poor^b fruit. Neither does a poor^b tree produce quality fruit. For each tree is perceived by its own fruit. For figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, and neither do they pick a bunch of grapes from brambles. The good person brings forth goodness from the goodness which is stored up in their heart. And the wicked person brings forth wickedness from the wickedness which is stored up in their heart. Because their mouth speaks from the overabundance of their heart.

    And why do you⁼ call me ‘Lord. Lord’, but you⁼ don’t do what I say? I’ll disclose to you⁼ what all those who come to me, and who hear my message, and then do it, are like. They’re like a person who built a house, who dug deeply and laid a foundation on the rock. And when a flood came, and the river dashed against that house, it wasn’t strong enough to shake it because it had been founded on the rock. And those who have heard, but who didn’t do, are like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation, which, when the river dashed against it, fell down straightaway, and the damage to that house was great.

7   And when he’d finished all his declarations in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion had a slave, whom he valued highly, and who was sick and about to die. But when he heard about Yeshua he sent off some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save his slave. And when they came to Yeshua they entreated him earnestly, saying, “He’s worthy to have you^- do this for him, because he loves our nation and he himself has built a synagogue for us.” So Yeshua went with them. But they weren’t far from the house when the centurion sent friends to him, saying, “Lord. Don’t trouble yourself, for I’m not important enough that you^- should enter under my roof. That’s why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you^-. But say the word and my servant^a will be healed. For I’m also a person who’s set under authority, and I myself have soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go’, and he goes. And to another, ‘Come’, and he comes. And to my slave, ‘Do this’, and he does it.” When he heard these things Yeshua marvelled at him. And turning to the crowd who were following him, he said, “I say to you⁼, I haven’t even found so much faith in Yisrael.” And when they’d returned to the house, those who’d been sent found the slave who’d been ill, well.

    And it came to be that next he went to a town called Nain. And a considerable number of his disciples, and a large crowd, went with him. And as he approached the town gate. Look! Someone who’d died was being carried out — the only son of his mother, who was herself a widow. And a considerable crowd from the town was there with her. And when he saw her the lord was moved with compassion for her, and he said to her, “Don’t weep.” And he approached, and he touched the coffin, and those who were carrying it stood still. And he said, “Young man! I say to you^-, ‘Get up!’” And the dead person sat up and he began talking. And he gave him back to his mother. And fear took them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has been raised up among us” and “God has visited his people.” And this story about him went out through the whole of Judea and to all the surrounding area.

    And the disciples of Yohannes reported back to him about all these things. And having called a certain two of his disciples to him, Yohannes sent them to the lord Yeshua to ask, “Are you^- the one who’s coming, or should we expect another?” So the men came up to him and said, “Yohannes the Immerser has sent us to you^-, saying, ‘Are you^- the one who’s coming, or should we expect another?’” Now, at that hour he’d cured many people from diseases, and afflictions, and wicked spirits, and he’d shown grace — giving sight to many who were blind. And answering, Yeshua said to them, “When you’ve⁼ gone, report to Yohannes what you’ve⁼ seen and heard. Because the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are brought the good news. And anyone who doesn’t take offence at me is blessed.”

    And when the messengers of Yohannes had gone away, he began to speak to the crowds about Yohannes, “What did you⁼ go out into the wilderness to see? A reed being swayed by the wind? Then what did you⁼ go out to see? A person dressed in soft clothes? Listen! Those in glorious garments and who belong in luxury are in royal palaces. Then what did you⁼ go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I say to you⁼, much more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it’s been written, ‘Look! I send my messenger ahead of you^-b, who’ll prepare your^- way before you^-.’ For I say to you⁼, there’s no-one among those born of women who’s a greater prophet than Yohannes the Immerser. But the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him. (When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be righteous, since they’d been immersed with the immersion of Yohannes. But the Pharisees and lawyers set aside the counsel of God for themselves, since they hadn’t been immersed by him.)

    To whom then will I liken the people of this generation? And what are they like? They’re like children who sit in the marketplace. They call out to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you⁼, but you⁼ didn’t dance. We wailed funeral songs for you⁼, but you⁼ didn’t weep.’ For Yohannes the Immerser has come, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you’re⁼ saying, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, and you’re⁼ saying, ‘Look! A gluttonous person, and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners.’ But wisdom has been declared righteous through all of her children.

    Now one of the Pharisees asked him if he’d eat with him. And when he’d entered the house of the Pharisee, he reclined. And look! A woman of that town, one who was sinful, was there. And realising that he was reclining in the house of the Pharisee, she fetched an alabaster jar of perfume. And she stood at his feet weeping, and she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wipe them off with the hair of her head. And she kissed his feet and anointed them with the perfume. And when he saw this, the Pharisee who’d invited him spoke to himself, saying, “If this was a prophet, then he would’ve perceived who, and what kind of woman, this is who’s touching him, because she’s sinful.” And answering, Yeshua said to him, “Shimon, I have something to say to you^-.” And he declared, “Teacher, say it.”

    ”There were two debtors to a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii^c, and the other fifty. But since they didn’t have anything to pay with, he showed grace to both. So which of them would you^- say will love him more?” And answering, Shimon said, “I take it — the one to whom more grace was shown.” And he said to him, “You’ve^- judged it correctly.”

    Then, having turned towards the woman, he declared to Shimon, “You^- see this woman? I entered into your^- house and you^- didn’t give me any water for my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with the hair of her head. You^- didn’t give me a kiss. But she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I entered. You^- didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfume. Therefore, I say to you^- — her many sins have been pardoned because she loves much. But whoever is pardoned of a few, loves a little.” And he said to her, “Your^- sins have been pardoned.” And those who were reclining with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who also pardons sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your^- faith has saved you^-. Go in peace.”

8   And afterwards, it came to be that he travelled through every town and village one by one, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with him, and some women who’d been cured from wicked spirits and illnesses: Maria, the one called Magdalene^a, from whom seven demons had come out; and Yohanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna; and many others who were serving them out of their belongings.

    And a large crowd had come together, and people from every town were coming to him. And he said, through an analogy, “The one who sows went out to sow his seed. And in his sowing, some indeed fell beside the path, and it was trampled, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And another fell on the rock, but when it’d sprouted it withered away because it didn’t have any moisture. And another fell in the middle of the thornbushes, and when it sprouted together with them, the thornbushes choked it. And another fell into the good ground, and when it’d sprouted, it produced fruit, one hundred times more.” And when he’d said these things, he called out, “Let the one who has ears to hear, hear!”

    And his disciples questioned him, saying, “What might this analogy be?” And he said, “It’s been given to you⁼ to perceive the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it’s given in analogies, so that looking they may not observe, and hearing they may not understand.

    But this is the analogy. The seed is the message of God. And those beside the path are those who hear but then Diabolos^b comes and he takes the message away from their hearts, so they don’t trust and be saved. And those on the rock are those who, when they’ve heard, welcome the message with joy, but they don’t have a root — who trust for a while, but in the time of trial they withdraw. And those which fell into the thornbushes, these are those who have heard but they’re driven by anxieties, and wealth, and the pleasures of life. And they’re smothered, and don’t bring it to maturity. But those in the quality soil, these are those with a quality and good heart, who have heard the message and they retain it, and they bear fruit through perseverance.

    No one who lights a lamp covers it with a vessel, or places it underneath a bed. But they place it on a lampstand so those who come in may observe the light. For nothing is hidden which won’t become apparent^c, neither is anything concealed which won’t be perceived and come to be evident^c. So then, watch out how you⁼ hear. For whoever has, even more will be given to them. And whoever doesn’t have, even what they presume they have will be taken away from them.”

    Then his mother and brothers came along to him, but they weren’t able to reach him because of the crowd. And it was reported to him, saying, “Your^- mother and your^- brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you^-.” But answering, he said to them, “These are my mother and my brothers — those who hear the message of God, and do it.”

    And it came to be in one of those days, that he stepped into a boat with his disciples and he said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they set out, and as they were sailing he fell asleep. And a severe wind storm descended on the lake, and they were being swamped, and they were in great danger. And they came to him and woke him, saying, “Master! Master! We’re being destroyed!” And when he’d been woken he rebuked the wind and the waves^d, and they ceased, and it became calm. And he said to them, “Where’s your⁼ faith?” But, being afraid, they marvelled, saying to one another, “So who is this, that he even commands the winds and the water, and they obey him!”

    And they sailed down to the region of the Gadarenes which is on the opposite side from Galilee. And when he got out onto the land, a certain man from the town, who’d had demons for a considerable time, came out to meet him. And he wasn’t wearing clothes, and he didn’t stay in a house, but among the tombs. And when he saw Yeshua, he cried out and fell down in front of him. And in a loud voice he said, “What am I to you^-, Yeshua, son of God the highest? I’m pleading with you^- — don’t torture me.” For he’d instructed the unclean spirit to come out from the person. Because it’d seized him many times, and even though he’d been bound by chains and shackles, and under guard, he’d break through the bonds and be driven into the wilderness by the daemon. And Yeshua questioned him, saying, “What’s your^- name?” And he said, “Legion”, because many demons had entered into him. And he entreated him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

    Now there was a considerable herd of pigs being grazed on the mountain. And they entreated him to permit them to enter into those, and he permitted them. And coming out of the person, the demons entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and they drowned. And when they saw what happened, those who were grazing them ran away into the town and into the fields, to report it. And they came out to see what had happened. And they came to Yeshua and they found the person from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at the feet of Yeshua, clothed, and of a sound mind. And they were afraid.

    And those who’d seen what happened reported how the demon possessed one had been saved. And the entire multitude from the surrounding area of the Gadarenes asked him go away from them, because they were gripped by great fear. So, stepping into the boat, Yeshua returned. But the man from whom the demons had come out was pleading with him — to go with him. But Yeshua sent him away, saying, “Return to your^- household and relate to them how much God has done for you^-.” So he went away throughout the whole town proclaiming how much Yeshua had done for him.

    And it came to be, when Yeshua returned, that the crowd was there to welcome him, because they’d all been expecting him. And look! A man named Jairus came along. He was a ruler of the synagogue to which he belonged. And falling at the feet of Yeshua he entreated him to enter into his house, because his only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying.

    As he was going there, the crowds were smothering him, and there was a woman who’d had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who’d spent everything she had to live on on physicians — but none were able to cure her. And approaching from behind, she touched the tassel of his cloak, and immediately her flow of blood stopped. But Yeshua said, “Who has touched me?” But everyone denied it, and Petros and those with him said, “Master, the crowds are pressing around you^- and jostling you^-. And you^- say, ‘Who’s touched me?’” But Yeshua said, “Someone has touched me, because I perceived that power went out from me.” And when she saw that she couldn’t go unnoticed, the woman, trembling, came and fell down in front of him. In front of all the people she reported to him the reason she’d touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said to her, “Have courage daughter! Your^- faith has healed you^-. Go in peace.”

    While he was still talking, a certain one from the ruler of the synagogue came and said to him, “Your^- daughter has died, don’t trouble the teacher.” But when he heard it Yeshua answered him, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust and she’ll be healed.” And when he came to the house he wouldn’t allow anyone to enter, except Petros, Yohannes and Yaakov, and the father and mother of the child. And they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She hasn’t died, but she’s sleeping.” And they ridiculed him, knowing that she’d died. But, he threw them all outside, and holding her hand he called, saying, “Child, wake up!” And her spirit returned to her, and immediately she stood up, and he told them to give her something to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he instructed them not to tell anyone what had happened.

9   And when he’d called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority — over all the demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them off to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And he said to them, “Don’t take anything for the way, no staves, no pouch, no bread, no silver. Don’t even have two tunics. And whichever house you⁼ enter into, stay there until you⁼ leave there. And whoever doesn’t welcome you⁼, leave that town and shake the dust from your⁼ feet, as a testimony against them.” And they went out and they passed through every village, bringing the good news and curing everywhere.

    And Herod the tetrarch^a heard about the things that Yeshua was doing. And he was at a loss to know what to do because it was being said by some that Yohannes had been raised from the dead, and by some that Eliyah had appeared, and by others that a prophet, one of the ancients, had risen up. And Herod said, “I beheaded Yohannes. So who’s this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

    And when they’d returned, the ambassadors related to him what they’d done. And he took them and retreated on his own to a desolate place near a town called Bethsaida. But when they became aware of it, the crowds followed him. And he welcomed them, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed curing.

    As the day began to decline, the Twelve came and said to him, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go off to the villages and fields around about and they may find food and lodging, because we’re in a desolate place here.” And he said to them, “You⁼ yourselves give them something to eat.”

    But they said, “We don’t have any more than five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men.

    And he said to his disciples, “Make them recline in groups of fifty.” And they did as he said and made them all lie down. And he took those five loaves of bread and those two fish, and looking up into the sky he blessed them and broke them into pieces, and he gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they ate, and all were satisfied. And they gathered up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.

    And it came to be, when he was praying alone, and his disciples were with him, that he inquired of them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And answering they said, “Yohannes the Immerser, and others, Eliyah, and others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, has risen up.”

    And he said to them, “And you⁼? Who do you⁼ say that I am?” And answering, Petros said, “The Anointed of God.” And warning them, he instructed them not to say this to anybody, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes. And be killed, and rise up again on the third day.”

    And he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, then let them renounce themselves, and let them pick up their stake^b, and let them follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, yet whoever would lose their life on account of me, this one will save it. For what’s a person benefitted if they’ve gained the whole world but they themselves are lost or forfeited? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my messages, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in the glory of himself, and of the father, and of the holy messengers. And I say to you⁼, truly, some of you⁼ who are standing here won’t taste death at all until they see the kingdom of God.”

    And it came to be, about eight days after these messages, that, taking Petros, Yohannes and Yaakov, he went up to the mountain to pray. And it came to be while he was praying, that the appearance of his face changed, and his garment shone like lightening^c. And look! Two men were conversing with him — Moshe and Eliyah, who appeared in glory and spoke about his departure, which he was about to fulfil in Jerusalem.

    But Petros and those who were with him were burdened by sleep, and becoming alert they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. And it came to be, that when they were separating from him, Petros said to Yeshua, “Master, it’s good^d for us to be here, and we should make three shelters — one for you^-, one for Moshe, and one for Eliyah.” (He didn’t know what he was saying).

    And as he was saying these things a cloud came and overshadowed them. And they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. And a voice came out from the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.” And when the voice was gone, Yeshua was found alone, and they were hushed. And in those days they didn’t report anything to anybody about what they’d seen.

    And it came to be the next day, as they were coming down from the mountain, that a large crowd met them. And look! There was a man shouting out from the crowd, saying, “Teacher, I’m pleading with you^- to give attention to my son, because he’s my only child. And look! A spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him with foam, and it leaves him with difficulty, crushing him. And I pleaded with your^- disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”

    And answering, Yeshua said, “Oh untrusting and perverted generation! How long will I be among you⁼ and be tolerant of you⁼. Bring your^- son here.” And while he was still approaching, the demon shattered him and convulsed him violently. But Yeshua rebuked the unclean spirit, and he healed the child and gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the majesty of God.

    And while they were all marvelling at the things which Yeshua had done, he said to his disciples, “Place these messages into your⁼ ears, [listen carefully], for the Son of Man is about to be handed over into the hands of people.” But they failed to recognise this declaration, and it was veiled from them so they wouldn’t comprehend it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

    And they entered into a discussion among themselves — who would be the greatest. And when Yeshua saw the reasoning of their hearts, he took hold of a child and stood it next to himself, and he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name is welcoming me. And whoever welcomes me is also welcoming the one who sent me. For the one who is by nature least among all of you⁼, this one will be great.”

    And answering, Yohannes said, “Master, we’ve seen someone casting out demons in your^- name, and we forbade him because he doesn’t follow along with us.” And Yeshua said to him, “Don’t forbid him. For the one who isn’t against us, is for us^e.”

    And it came to be that the days were fulfilled for him to be taken up. And he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers off ahead of him^f. And when they went, they entered into a village of Samaritans in order to prepare for him. But they wouldn’t welcome him, because his face was going to Jerusalem. And when they saw this, his disciples Yaakov and Yohannes said, “Lord. Do you^- want us to tell fire to come down from the sky and to destroy them, like Eliyah did?” But Yeshua turned around and rebuked them, saying, “You⁼ don’t know what kind of spirit you⁼ are of. For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy peoples’ lives, but to save them.” And they went to another village.

    And it came to be, as they were going along the road, that a certain one of them said to him, “I’ll follow you^- wherever you^- go lord.” And Yeshua said to him, “Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man doesn’t have anywhere to lay his head down.”

    And he said to another, “Follow me.” But they said, “Lord, permit me to go off first to bury my father.” But Yeshua said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead. But you^- go and pass on^g the kingdom of God.”

    And another also said, “I’ll follow you^- lord. But first permit me to say farewell to those in my household.” But Yeshua said to him, “Nobody who has put his hand to the plough, and who looks back at things behind him, is suitable for the kingdom of God.”

10   And after these things the lord indicated seventy others, and he sent them off in pairs ahead of him, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. Then he said to them, “Indeed the harvest is large but the workers are few. Plead with the lord of the harvest, so that he’ll throw workers into his harvest.

    Go. Look! I send you⁼ like lambs in the midst of wolves. Don’t carry a money bag, nor a pouch, not even sandals. And don’t greet anyone on the way.

    And whichever house you⁼ enter into, first say, ‘Peace to this house’, and if a son of peace is there then your⁼ peace will rest on him. But if not, then it’ll come back onto you⁼. Remain in that house, eating and drinking the things they have — for a worker is worthy of his reward. Don’t move around from house to house. And whichever town you⁼ enter into and they welcome you⁼, then eat the things which they put in front of you⁼. And cure the sick in it, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you⁼.’

    And whichever town you⁼ enter into but they don’t welcome you⁼, then go out into its squares and say, ‘We’re wiping off against you⁼ the dust of your⁼ town that’s clinging to us. But perceive this — the kingdom of God has come near to you⁼.’ I say to you⁼, that it’ll be more tolerable for Sodom on that day, than for that town.

    Woe to you^-, Korazin! Woe to you^-, Bethsaida. Because if the works of power which happened among you⁼ had happened in Tyre and Sidon, then they would’ve repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Except it’ll be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgement, than for you⁼. And you^-, Capernaum, who was lifted up to heaven, you’ll^- be made to go down to Hades^a.

    The one who hears you⁼, hears me. And the one who sets you⁼ aside, sets me aside. And the one who sets me aside, sets aside the one who sent me.”

    And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your^- name.” But he said to them, “I watched Satan^b fall from heaven like lightening. Look! I give you⁼ the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all kinds of power of the enemy. And nothing will harm you⁼ at all. Except don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you⁼, but because your⁼ names are written in the heavens.”

    In that hour, Yeshua rejoiced exceedingly by the spirit, and he said, “I profess you^- father, lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve^- concealed these things from the wise and the intelligent, but you’ve^- revealed them to infants. Yes, father, because this brought delight to you^-.”

    And, turning to his disciples, he said, “All has been handed over to me by my father. And nobody perceives who the son is except the father, or who the father is except the son, and whomever the son intends to reveal him to.”

    And turning again to his disciples he said privately, “The eyes that observe what you⁼ observe are blessed. For I say to you⁼, that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you⁼ observe, but they didn’t see it, and to hear what you⁼ hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

    And look! A certain lawyer stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher. What should I do to inherit everlasting life?” And he said to him, “What’s been written in the law? How do you^- read it?” And answering, he said, “You’ll^- love the lord^c [Yahweh] your^- god from your^- whole heart, and from your^- whole soul, and from your^- whole strength, and from your^- whole understanding. And your^- neighbour as you^- love yourself.” And he said to him, “You’ve^- answered correctly. Do this and you’ll^- live.”

    But, wanting to declare himself righteous, he said to Yeshua, “And who’s my neighbour?” And taking him up, Yeshua said, “A certain person was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and it happened that he fell among robbers, who stripped him, and lay blows on him, and left him alone half dead. And by coincidence a certain priest was going down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. And likewise there came a Levite. And when he came to the place and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

    But a certain Samaritan, who was travelling, came to him. And when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. And approaching, he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. And he put him on his own animal, and he led him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day, as he was leaving he took out two denarii^d and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you^- spend, I’ll repay you^- when I return.’

    Who then of these three do you^- suppose was a neighbour to the one who fell among the robbers?” And he said, “The one who had mercy on him.” Then Yeshua said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

    And it came to be as they were going on their way, that he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman, whose name was Martha, welcomed him into her house. And she also had a sister, called Maria, who sat at the feet of Yeshua and was listening to his message. But Martha was distracted because of so much serving. And standing near him, she said, “Lord, don’t you^- care that my sister has left me alone to do all the serving? Then tell her that she should help me.” But answering, Yeshua said to her, “Martha. Martha. You’re^- anxious and getting worked up about many things. But only one thing is needed. And Maria has chosen the better part, which won’t be taken away from her.”

11   And it came to be, when he was praying in a certain place, that as he finished, a certain one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as Yohannes also taught his disciples.”

    And he said to them, “Whenever you’re⁼ praying, say, ‘Our father who’s in the heavens, let your^- name be regarded as holy. Let your^- kingdom come. Let your^- will come to be also on the earth as it is in heaven. Give us our bread, sufficient for each day. And pardon us for our sins, because we ourselves pardon all who owe us. And don’t bring us into a trial, but rescue us from the wicked’”

    And he said to them, “Which of you⁼ will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, supply my need of three loaves of bread, since a friend has come out of the way to me, and I don’t have anything to set in front of him.’ And answering, the one inside would say, ‘Don’t give me trouble. The door has already been locked and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up to give it to you^-.’ I say to you⁼, even if he won’t get up to give it to him because he’s a friend, then surely because of his shamelessness, he’ll wake up and he’ll give him as much as he needs. And I say to you⁼, request, and it’ll be given to you⁼, seek, and you’ll⁼ find, knock, and it’ll be opened to you⁼. For all those who request, receive. And the one who seeks, finds. And for the one who knocks, it’ll be opened.

    And which of you⁼ fathers, when a son requests a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or for a fish, will give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he requests an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you⁼ then who are inherently wicked, know how to give good gifts to your⁼ children, how much more will the father from heaven give the holy spirit to those who ask him.

    And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. And it came to be that when the demon had come out, the mute person spoke. And the crowds marvelled, but some of them said, “He casts out the demons by Beelzebub^a the ruler of demons.” And others, testing him, sought for a sign from heaven.

    But knowing their thoughts he said to them, “Every kingdom which is divided against itself will become desolate, and household against household will fall. And if Satan^b is also divided against himself, then how will his kingdom be able to stand? Now you’re⁼ saying that I cast the demons out by Beelzebub^a. But if I cast the demons out by Beelzebub^a then by whom do your⁼ sons cast them out? Because of this, they themselves will be your⁼ judges. But if I cast the demons out by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has overtaken you⁼.

    Whenever the strong person, who’s armed, guards his own courtyard, his belongings are at peace. But if someone stronger than him comes and conquers him, he takes his armour and weapons, in which he had confidence, away from him, and he distributes the spoils. The one who isn’t with me, is against me. And the one who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.

    Whenever an unclean spirit has come out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest. And when it doesn’t find any, it says, ‘I’ll return to my house which I came out from.’ And when it goes there, it finds that it’s been swept and tidied. Then it goes and takes along seven different spirits, more wicked than itself. And they come and dwell there. And the final state of that person is worse than the first.”

    And it came to be, while he was saying these things, that a certain woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “The belly which bore you^- is blessed. And the breasts that nursed^c you^-.” But he said, “Those who hear the message of God, and who keep it, are definitely blessed.”

    And as the crowds were building up he began to say, “This generation is wicked. It seeks a sign, but a sign won’t be given to it except the sign of the prophet Yonah.” For just as Yonah became a sign to the Ninevites, in the same way the Son of Man will be to this generation. At the judgement, the Queen of the South will be raised up with the men of this generation, and she’ll condemn them because she came from the ends of the land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And look! One who’s greater than Solomon is here.

    At the judgement, the men of Ninevah will rise up with this generation, and they’ll condemn it because they repented at the proclamation of Yonah. And look! One who’s greater than Yonah is here.

    And nobody lights a lamp to put it somewhere hidden or under a basket, but on the lampstand so those who come in may see the light. The eye is the lamp of the body. Whenever your^- eye is simple^d then your^- whole body will be lit up. But if your^- eye is ever wicked then your^- body will be darkened. So make sure^e that the light in you^- isn’t darkness. If your^- whole body is lit up with no part of it darkened, then the whole of you^- will be lit up as if the shining of a lamp is illuminating you^-.”

    As he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to have breakfast with him. And he entered, and he reclined. And when the Pharisee saw this, he marvelled because he didn’t bathe^f first before the breakfast. And the lord said to him, “Now, you⁼ Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but on the inside you’re⁼ full of greediness and wickedness. Fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside also make the inside? But, give the things within as an act of charity. And look! For you⁼ everything’s clean.

    But woe to you⁼ Pharisees. Because you⁼ give a tenth of the mint, and rue, and every green, but you⁼ ignore the judgement and the love of God. These things must be done, without those being ignored. Woe to you⁼ Pharisees. Because you⁼ love the front seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you⁼ scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Because you’re⁼ like unseen tombs, which people walk on without being aware of it.”

    And answering, one of the lawyers said to him, “Teacher, when you^- say these things, you^- also insult us.” And he said, “And woe to you⁼ lawyers! Because you⁼ load people down with burdens that are hard to bear, but you⁼ yourselves don’t even touch the burdens with one of your⁼ fingers. Woe to you⁼! Because you⁼ build the tombs of the prophets, yet your⁼ fathers killed them. So then, you⁼ testify to and endorse the actions of your⁼ fathers. Because they indeed killed them, and you⁼ build their tombs. And because of this the wisdom of God has said, ‘I’ll send prophets and ambassadors out among them. And they’ll kill some of them, and they’ll chase some of them away’. So that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed since the foundation of the world may be demanded from this generation. From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I say to you⁼ that it will be demanded from this generation. Woe to you⁼ lawyers! Because you⁼ take away the key of knowledge. You⁼ yourselves didn’t enter, and you’ve⁼ hindered those who are entering.”

    And when he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to forcefully hem him in, and to question him sharply about more things — ambushing him and seeking an opportunity to pounce on anything out of his mouth, so they could accuse him.

12   At that time a crowd of tens of thousands had been gathered together, (to the point that they were trampling one another), and he began to say first to his disciples, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. And there’s nothing which has been covered up which won’t be uncovered, or hidden which won’t be perceived. Instead, whatever you’ve⁼ said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you’ve⁼ spoken in someone’s ear among the storerooms will be proclaimed on the rooftops. And I say to you⁼ my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body and after that don’t have anything more that they can do. But I’ll tell you⁼ who you⁼ should be afraid of — be afraid of the one, who, after he’s killed, has the authority to throw into Gehenna^a. Yes I say to you⁼, ‘Be afraid of him!’

    Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria^b? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. And even the hairs on your⁼ head have all been numbered. So then, don’t be afraid — you⁼ are of more consequence than many sparrows.

    And I say to you⁼, all who profess me in front of the people, the Son of Man will profess them in front of the messengers of God. But the one who disowns me in front of the people will be renounced in front of the messengers of God.

    And all who say anything against the Son of Man will be pardoned, but the one who speaks evil against the holy spirit won’t be pardoned. And whenever you’re⁼ brought to the synagogues, and to the rulers and powers, don’t be anxious about how or what you⁼ should be defending, or what you⁼ should say. For the holy spirit will teach you⁼ at that hour what must be said.”

    And a certain person from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who installed me as a judge or arbitrator between you⁼?” And he said to them, “Watch, and be on guard against greed, because a person’s life doesn’t come from the overabundance of his belongings.”

    And he told them an analogy, saying, “A certain rich person had land which produced well. And he reasoned with himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have anywhere to gather my fruit?’ And he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I’ll pull down my storehouses and I’ll build better ones. And I’ll gather all my produce and all my goods there. And I’ll say to my soul, “Soul, you^- have many goods laid up for many years. Take a rest. Eat, drink, and celebrate.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight your^- soul will be demanded from you^-. Then who’ll have what you’ve^- prepared?’ And so it’ll be for the one who hoards for themselves but who isn’t rich towards God.”

    And he said to his disciples, “Because of this I say to you⁼, don’t be anxious about your⁼ life, what you’ll⁼ eat, or what you’ll⁼ wear on your⁼ body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, because they don’t sow or reap, and they have no storerooms or storehouses. But God looks after them^c. And of how much more consequence are you⁼ than birds! And who of you⁼ is able to add a cubit^d to their height by your⁼ anxieties? So if you⁼ aren’t even able to do the least thing, why are you⁼ anxious about the rest?

    Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t labour or spin yarn. But I say to you⁼, that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. And if God clothes the grass of the field in this way, which is here today but tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you⁼ — you⁼ of little faith.

    And you⁼ — don’t seek after what you⁼ might eat, or what you⁼ might drink, and don’t stress yourself with worry. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, but your⁼ father knows that you⁼ need them. Seek only the kingdom of God, and these things will all be added to you⁼.

    Don’t be afraid little flock, because your⁼ father was delighted to give you⁼ the kingdom. Sell your⁼ belongings, and give as an act of charity. Make money bags for yourselves that won’t become old, ongoing treasure in the heavens, where a thief doesn’t come near it, nor a moth destroy it. For wherever your⁼ treasure is, your⁼ heart will be there too.

    Let your⁼ loins be girded^e and your⁼ lamps burning. And be like people who are anticipating that their lord will be leaving the wedding festivities. So that when he comes and knocks, they may open up for him straightaway. Those slaves whom the lord will find staying alert when he comes, are blessed. Amen^f I say to you⁼, that he’ll gird^g himself and make them recline, and he’ll come near and he’ll serve them. And even if he comes during the second watch^h, or during the third watchⁱ, those slaves which he finds like this, will be blessed.

    And perceive this, that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would’ve been alert, and wouldn’t have allowed his house to be broken into. So you⁼, get ready then! Because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you⁼ don’t expect.”

    And Petros said to him, “Lord, are you^- saying this analogy to us or also to everyone?” And the lord said, “So who then is the trustworthy and prudent steward whom the lord will install, to take care of his household^j, and to give them the measure of grain at the proper time? That slave whose lord will find him doing this when he returns is blessed. Truly I say to you⁼, that he’ll install him over all of his belongings. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying coming.’ And he starts beating the servants^k and the slave girls, and eating and drinking and getting drunk. The lord of that slave will arrive on a day which he doesn’t expect, and at an hour that he doesn’t perceive, and he’ll cut him in two, and he’ll place his portion with the untrustworthy.

    And the slave who perceives the will of his own master, but who doesn’t get himself ready, nor do things according to his will — will be severely whipped. But the one who doesn’t perceive, and who does things which are deserving of a beating, will only be whipped a little. And from all to whom much was given, much will be sought, and from those to whom much was entrusted, much more will requested.

    I came to throw fire on the earth, and I wish it was already lit. But I have an immersion to be immersed in, and I’m constrained until it’s completed. Do you⁼ suppose that I came to give peace to the earth? I say to you⁼, no, but division. For from now on, five will be in one house and they’ll be divided three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

    And he also said to the crowds, “Whenever you⁼ see the clouds rising from the west, straightaway you⁼ say, ‘A rainstorm is coming’, and so it does. And whenever the south wind blows you⁼ say because of that, ‘There’ll be a scorching heat’, and there is. Hypocrites! You⁼ know how to discern the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you⁼ don’t know how to discern this time?

    And why don’t you⁼ judge between yourselves what’s righteous? For, as you’re^- going off to the ruler with the plaintiff who’s suing you^- — make an effort to be cleared by him while you’re^- still on the way. Otherwise, he might drag you^- in front of the judge, and the judge hand you^- over to the officer of the court, and the officer of the court throw you^- into jail. I say to you^-, you^- won’t get out from there at all until you’ve^- paid the last lepton^l.”

13   Now there were some people present at that time who were reporting to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And answering, Yeshua said to them, “Do you⁼ assume that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered such things? They weren’t. And I say to you⁼, that unless you⁼ repent then you’ll⁼ all similarly be destroyed. Or those eighteen in Siloam on whom the tower fell and killed them. Do you⁼ assume that they’d become greater debtors than all those people who dwell in Jerusalem? They weren’t. And I say to you⁼, that unless you⁼ repent you’ll⁼ all similarly be destroyed.”

    And he spoke this analogy, “A certain person had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard. And he came up looking for fruit on it, but he didn’t find any. And he said to the person who tended the vines, ‘Look! For three years I’ve been coming and looking for fruit on this fig tree and not finding any. Cut it down. Why should it make the ground useless?’ But answering, he said to him, “Lord, leave it alone for this year as well, and I’ll dig around it and put manure on it. And if indeed it produces fruit... but if not, then do what you^- intend to do, and cut it down.’”

    And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And look! There was a woman who’d had a spirit of illness for eighteen years. And she was bent over, and she was completely unable to straighten up. And when he saw her, Yeshua called out and said to her, “Woman! You’ve^- been released from your^- illness.” And he placed his hands on her, and immediately she was straightened^a up again, and she glorified God.

    But answering, the ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Yeshua had cured on the Sabbath. He said to the crowd, “There are six days in which you⁼ must work. So come and be cured on those, and not on the day of the Sabbath.” Then the lord answered him and he said, “Hypocrites! On the Sabbath, doesn’t each one of you⁼ untie his ox or his donkey from the feeding trough and lead it away to give it something to drink? So this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan^b has bound for eighteen years — shouldn’t she also be untied from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?” And when he said these things all those who were opposing him were put to shame, and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things that were being done by him.

    And he said, “What’s the kingdom of God like? And to what will I liken it? It’s like a kernel of mustard, which a person takes and throws into their own garden, and it grows and it becomes a huge tree, and the birds of the sky roost in its branches.” And again he said, “To what will I liken the kingdom of God? It’s like yeast which a woman takes and mixes into three sata^c of flour [about 40 litres], until the whole thing is leavened.”

    And he went through all the towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. And a certain one said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” And he said to them, “Contend^d to enter in through the narrow gate, because I say to you⁼, many will seek to enter, but won’t be able to.

    Once the homeowner has gotten up and has closed the door — you⁼ might begin to stand outside knocking on the door, saying, ‘Lord. Lord. Open up for us!’ But when he answers he’ll say to you⁼, ‘I don’t know you⁼. Where are you⁼ from?’ Then you⁼ might begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your^- sight, and you^- taught in our squares.’ But he’ll say, ‘I say to you⁼, I don’t know you⁼. Where are you⁼ from? Stay away from me all you⁼ workers of unrighteousness!’

    There’ll be weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you⁼ see Abraham, and Yitshak, and Yaakov, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you⁼ yourselves are thrown outside. And they’ll arrive from the east, and west, and north, and south, and they’ll be made to recline in the kingdom of God. And look! Those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.”

    On that day, some Pharisees approached him, saying to him, “Get out, and go from here, because Herod wants to kill you^-.” And he said to them, “Go and say this to that fox, ‘Look! I’m casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow. On the third day I’ll be finished.’ Except I have to keep going today and tomorrow because it isn’t acceptable for a prophet to be destroyed outside Jerusalem.

    Jerusalem, Jerusalem — the one who kills the prophets and stones those who’ve been sent to her. How many times did I want to gather your^- children in the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you⁼ weren’t willing. Look! Your⁼ house is being left to you⁼ desolate. But I say to you⁼, that you⁼ won’t see me again at all until the time comes when you⁼ say, ‘The one who comes in the name of the lord^e [Yahweh] is blessed.’”

14   And it came to be, when he went into the house of a certain of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they were watching him closely. And look! A certain person with dropsy^a was there in front of him. And answering, Yeshua spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it permitted to cure on the Sabbath?” But they kept quiet. And he took hold of him and healed him and sent him away. And answering them he said, “Which of you⁼, if a son or an ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, won’t pull them out straightaway?” But they weren’t able to answer him about these things.

    And observing how they selected the most important places at the table, he gave an analogy to those who’d been invited, saying to them, “Whenever you’re^- invited by anyone to wedding feasts, don’t recline at the most important place — otherwise someone who’s more honoured than you^- might have been invited, and the one who invited you^- and them will come and say to you^-, ‘Give the place to this person.’ And then with humiliation you’ll^- begin to occupy the last place. But whenever you’re^- invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who invited you^- comes he’ll say to you^-, ‘Friend! Move up further.’ Then you’ll^- have glory in front of all those who are reclining with you^-. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

    And he said to the one who’d invited him, “Whenever you^- hold a breakfast or a dinner, don’t call your^- friends, nor your^- brothers, nor your^- relatives, nor your^- rich neighbours. Otherwise they themselves will also invite you^- in return, and you’ll^- have been repaid. But whenever you^- hold a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. And you’ll^- be blessed because they’ll have no way to repay you^-, and it’ll be repaid to you^- at the resurrection of the righteous.”

    But when he heard this, a certain one of those who were reclining with them said to him, “Those who’ll eat breakfast in the kingdom of God are blessed.” And he [Yeshua] said to him, “A certain person prepared a great dinner and he invited many people. And he sent off his slave at the hour of the dinner to tell those who’d been invited to come, because everything was already ready.

    But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I’ve bought a field and I have to go out and see it. I ask you^- to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I’ve bought five yoke of oxen and I’m going to try them out. I ask you^- to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I’ve married a wife, and because of this I’m not able to come.’ And that slave came alongside and reported all these things to his master.

    Then the homeowner became indignant and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the squares and streets of the town, and bring in the poor, and the crippled, and the lame, and the blind.’ And the slave said, ‘Master, it’s been done as you^- commanded, but there’s still room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and the fences, and compel them to enter in, so my house is completely filled. For I say to you⁼, that none of those men who’d been invited will taste my dinner.’”

    Large crowds were going along with him, and turning towards them he said, “If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate their father and mother, their wife and children, their brothers and sisters, and even their own life — they aren’t able to be my disciple. And anyone who doesn’t carry their stake^b and come after me, isn’t able to be my disciple.

    For who among you⁼, wanting to build a tower, wouldn’t first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if they have enough to complete it. Otherwise, when they’ve laid the foundation of it and aren’t able to finish it, all those who look at it would begin to mock him, saying, ‘This person began to build but wasn’t able to finish.’

    Or what king who goes to engage another king in battle, won’t first sit down and take counsel, whether he’s powerful enough with ten thousand to meet the one who comes against him with twenty thousand. And if not, then while he’s still a long way away he’ll send off his representatives to ask for terms of peace.

    So then, every one of you⁼ who doesn’t bid farewell to all of their own belongings isn’t able to be my disciple. Salt is good^c, but if the salt loses its flavour, what can it be seasoned with? It’s no longer useful for the soil or for manure, and it’s thrown out. Let the one who has ears to hear, hear!”

15   Now, all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near him to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, saying, “This person accepts sinners and eats with them.” But he told them this analogy, saying, “Which person from among you⁼, who has a hundred sheep and who loses one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety nine in the wilderness and go off after the one which was lost until they find it. And when they find it, place it on their shoulders, rejoicing. And when they come into the house, call together their friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found my sheep which was lost.’ I say to you⁼, that in the same way there’ll be more joy in heaven when one sinner repents than when there are ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

    Or, what woman who has ten drachmas^a, if she should lose one drachma^a, doesn’t light a lamp and sweep the house and carefully seek until she finds it. And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found the drachma^a which I’d lost.’ I say to you⁼, that in the same way, there’s joy in the presence of the messengers of God over one sinner repenting.”

    And he said, “A certain person had two sons. And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the part of the estate that falls to me.’ And he divided up his livelihood between them.

    And not many days later, when he’d gathered everything together, the younger son travelled to a distant country — and there he squandered his estate by extravagant and immoral living. And when he’d spent everything he had, a severe famine came on that country, and he himself began to be in need. And he went off and he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out into his fields to graze pigs. And he longed to fill his belly full of the pods which the pigs were eating, but nobody gave him any.

    And coming to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, but I’m dying of starvation! I’ll get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him, “Father! I’ve sinned against heaven and also in your^- sight. And I’m no longer worthy to be called your^- son — make me like one of your^- hired workers.”’

    And he got up and went to his father. And his father saw him when he was still far away, and he was moved with compassion, and he ran, and he threw himself around his neck and kissed him. But the son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and also in your^- sight. And I’m no longer worthy to be called your^- son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. And give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring in the fattened calf, and kill it so we may eat and celebrate. Because this son of mine was dead and he’s returned to life, and he was lost and he’s been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

    But his older son was in a field, and as he was coming near to the house he heard music and dancing. And calling one of the servants^b he inquired what was happening. And he said to him, ‘It’s because your^- brother has arrived, and your^- father has killed the fattened calf because he got back safe and sound.’ But he was indignant and didn’t want to enter in.

    Then his father came out and entreated him. But answering he said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I’ve been a slave to you^-, and I’ve never ignored your^- command. And you^- never even gave me a kid so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours^- came, who’d devoured your^- livelihood with prostitutes, you^- killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Child! You’re^- always with me, and everything that’s mine is yours^-. But it was necessary to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours^- was dead and he’s returned to life, he was lost and he’s been found.’”

16   And he also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich person who had a steward. And this steward was accused of squandering his belongings. And he called him and said to him, ‘What’s this that I hear about you^-? Give me the account of your^- stewardship, because you’ll^- no longer be able to be my steward.’

    But the steward said to himself, ‘What will I do? Because my master will take the stewardship from me. I’m not strong enough to dig and I’m ashamed to beg — I know what I’ll do so they’ll welcome me into their homes when I’m removed from the stewardship.’ And when he’d called each of his master’s debtors to come to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you^- owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred baths^a of olive oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Here, take your^- account and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘So how much do you^- owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred cors^b of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your^- account and write eighty.’ And the master applauded the steward of unrighteousness because he’d acted prudently. For the sons of this age are more prudent with their own generation, than the sons of the light.

    And I also say to you⁼, make friends for yourselves using the mammon^c of unrighteousness, so that when you⁼ cease, they’ll welcome you⁼ into the everlasting tents. The one who’s trustworthy in the least thing, is also trustworthy in the greatest. And the one who’s unrighteous in the least thing, is also unrighteous in the greatest. So if you⁼ haven’t been trustworthy with unrighteous mammon^c, then who’ll trust you⁼ with true wealth? And if you⁼ haven’t been trustworthy with another’s, then who’ll give you⁼ your⁼ own? No household slave is able to be a slave to two masters. For they’ll either hate one and love the other, or they’ll cling to one and despise the other. You⁼ aren’t able to be a slave both to God and to mammon^c.”

    And when the Pharisees, who were all fond of material wealth, heard all these things they sneered at him. And he said to them, “You’re⁼ the ones who declare yourselves righteous in the sight of the people, but God perceives your⁼ hearts. That which is highly esteemed among people is an abomination in the sight of God.

    Up until Yohannes there was the law and the prophets. Since then the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. But it’s easier for the sky and the earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of the law to fall.

    Everyone who releases his wife and marries another commits adultery. And everyone who has been released from a husband and marries, commits adultery.

    There was a certain person, a rich man, who was wearing purple and fine linen and celebrating splendidly every day. And there was a certain poor man, named Lazarus, who was covered with sores and who’d been placed at his gate. He longed to be satisfied by the crumbs which fell from the table of the rich man. And even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

    And it came to be that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the messengers to the bosom of Abraham. And the rich man also died and was buried. And when he was in torment in Hades^d he lifted up his eyes and he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosoms. And he called them, saying, ‘Father Abraham! Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water so he can cool my tongue, because I’m in agony in this flame.’

    But Abraham said, ‘Child! Recall that you^- received good things during your^- lifetime, and Lazarus likewise evil things. But now here, he’s being consoled but you’re^- in agony. And on top of all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you⁼, so those who want to step across from here over to you⁼ aren’t able to. Neither may those from there cross over to us.’

    And he said, ‘I ask you^- then father, that you^- send him to the household of my father, because I have five brothers — so that he may earnestly plead with them, and they don’t also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moshe and the prophets. Let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham! But if anyone from the dead goes to them, they’ll repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they don’t hear Moshe and the prophets, then they also won’t be persuaded even if someone rises up from the dead.’”

17   And he said to his disciples, “It’s impossible that snares won’t come, but woe to the one through whom it comes. It’d be better for him if a millstone of a donkey had been placed around his neck and he’d been tossed into the sea, than he should make one of these little ones stumble. So watch out for yourselves! If your^- brother sins against you^- then rebuke him! And if he repents then pardon him. And if he sins against you^- seven times a day, and seven times a day he turns around saying, ‘I repent’, then you’ll^- pardon him.”

    And the ambassadors said to the lord, “Add faith to us!” But the lord said, “If you⁼ have faith like a kernel of mustard, then you⁼ could have said to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea.’ and it would’ve obeyed you⁼.

    And which of you⁼ who has a slave, ploughing or tending sheep, when he comes in from the field, will say to him, ‘Come here straightaway and recline!’ But won’t he say to him instead, ‘Prepare something for me to dine. And gird^a yourself so you^- can serve me until I eat and drink. And after that, you^- yourself will eat and drink’? He isn’t thankful to that slave because he did what was directed? I presume not. In the same way you⁼ too, whenever you’ve⁼ done all the things directed for you⁼, say, ‘We’re useless slaves, because we’ve only done what we should’ve done.’”

    And it came to be as he was going to Jerusalem, that he passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. And as he was entering into a certain village, ten men with leprosy who were standing at a distance, met him. And they lifted their voices, saying, “Yeshua. Master. Have mercy on us.” And when he saw them he said, “Go off and show yourselves to the priests!” And it came to be, that as they went they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice. And he fell down on his face at his feet, giving thanks to him. And he was a Samaritan. And answering, Yeshua said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? And the other nine, where are they? Weren’t any found to return and give glory to God except this outsider?” And he said to him, “Get up and go! Your^- faith has healed you^-.”

    And having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, and he said, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come with careful observation, nor will they say, ‘Look! Here it is.’ or ‘Look! There.’ For look! The kingdom of God is among you⁼.” And he said to the disciples, “Days will come when you’ll⁼ desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you⁼ won’t see it. And they’ll say to you⁼, ‘Look! Here.’ or ‘Look! There’. But don’t go off, and don’t pursue. For just as the lightening shines when it flashes from one part of the sky to another, so too the Son of Man will be on his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.

    And just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it’ll be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, up until the day Noah entered into the ark. And the deluge came and destroyed all of them. And likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot — they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. But on the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from the sky and destroyed them all. And it’ll be just like this on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

    In that day, the one who’s on the rooftop shouldn’t go down to get their things which are inside the house. And the one who’s in the field, likewise, shouldn’t turn back for anything. Recall Lot’s wife! Whoever seeks to save their life will lose it. And whoever loses it will keep it alive. I say to you⁼, on that night there’ll be two^b on one mat, one will be taken along, and the other one will be left behind. Two^c will be grinding [flour] on the same mill, one will be taken along, and the other one will be left behind. Two^b will be in the field, one will be taken along, and the other one will be left behind.” And answering, they said to him, “Where lord?” And he said to them, “The eagles will be gathered together wherever there’s a dead body.”

18   Then he spoke an analogy to them, that they should pray at all times, and not be faint hearted, saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town, who wasn’t afraid of God, and who payed no regard to people. And there was a widow in that town and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Avenge me against my plaintiff!” And for a while he didn’t want to, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even though I’m not afraid of God, and I pay no regard to people, yet surely, because this widow is giving me trouble, I’ll avenge her, otherwise she’ll completely wear me out by her constantly coming to me.’”

    And the lord said, “Listen to what the judge of unrighteousness says. And won’t God bring about vengeance for his selected, who shout to him day and night — being patient over them. I say to you⁼, that he’ll bring about vengeance for them swiftly. Except, when the Son of Man comes, will he consequently find faith on the earth?”

    And he also spoke this analogy to some of them who had confidence in themselves, (that they were righteous), and who scorned the rest, “Two people went up to the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other one was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up by himself and prayed these things, ‘God, I give thanks to you^- because I’m not like the rest of the people, plunderers, the unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of whatever I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and wouldn’t lift his eyes up to heaven, but he beat his chest, saying, ‘God, appease your^- anger towards me, the sinner!’ I say to you⁼, this one went down to his house having been declared righteous, rather than the other one. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

    And they brought their babies to him so he’d touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Yeshua called them to him and said, “Allow the children to come to me and don’t prevent them, for the kingdom of God is of such as them. Amen^a, I say to you⁼, whoever doesn’t welcome the kingdom of God like a child does, may not enter into it at all.”

    And a certain ruler inquired of him, saying, “Good teacher, what should I do to inherit everlasting life?” And Yeshua said to him, “Why do you^- call me good? Nobody is good except one — God. You^- know the commandments. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t testify falsely. Hold your^- father and mother in honour.” And he said, “I’ve kept all these carefully since my youth.” And when he heard these things Yeshua said to him, “You^- still lack one thing. Sell everything, whatever you^- have, and distribute it to the poor, then you’ll^- have treasure in heaven. And come here and follow me.” But when he heard this he became deeply saddened because he was extremely rich. And when he saw him become deeply saddened Yeshua said, “How difficultly those who have money^b will enter into the kingdom of God. For it’s easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Then who’s able to be saved?” And he said, “The things which are impossible with people are possible with God.”

    And Petros said, “Look! We left everything behind and followed you^-.” And he said to them, “Amen^a, I say to you⁼, that there’s nobody who left behind a house, or parents, or brothers, or a wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who won’t receive back many times more in this time, and everlasting life in the age which is coming.”

    And taking the Twelve aside he said to them, “Look! We’re going up to Jerusalem, and all the things which have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. For he’ll be handed over to the nations, and he’ll be mocked and insulted, and he’ll be spat on. And they’ll flog him and kill him, but on the third day he’ll rise up. But they didn’t understand any of these things. And this declaration was hidden from them, and they didn’t perceive what was being said.

    And it came to be, as he was approaching Jericho, that a certain blind person sat alongside the path, begging. And when he heard the crowd passing through he inquired what this might be. They reported to him that Yeshua of Nazareth was passing by. And he shouted, saying, “Yeshua! Son of David! Have mercy on me.” And those who were going ahead rebuked him, that he should be silent. But he cried out even more, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” And standing still, Yeshua ordered him to be brought to him. And when he came near he inquired of him, saying, “What do you^- want me to do for you^-?” And he said, “Lord, that I should recover my sight.” And Yeshua said to him, “Recover your^- sight. Your^- faith has healed you^-.” And immediately he recovered his sight, and he followed along behind him, glorifying God. And when they saw this, all the people gave praise^c to God.

19   And he entered Jericho and was passing through it. And look! There was a man named Zacchaeus, he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he was trying to see who Yeshua was, but he wasn’t able to because of the crowd, (because he was small in stature). And running ahead he climbed a sycamore tree so he might be able to see him, because he was about to pass by. And as Yeshua came to that place he looked up and saw him, and he said to him, “Zacchaeus! Hurry and come down. Because today I must stay at your^- house.” And, hurrying, he climbed down and welcomed him gladly. And when they all saw it, they grumbled, saying, “He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man.” But standing up, Zacchaeus said to the lord, “Look! I’ll give half of my belongings to the poor lord. And if I’ve extorted anyone, then I’ll repay them four times as much.” And Yeshua said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, inasmuch as this man is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”

    And while they were listening to these things he added an analogy, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they were assuming that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately. So he said, “A certain noble person went to a distant country to accept a kingdom for himself and then return. And having called ten of his slaves, he gave them ten minas^a. And he said to them, ‘Engage yourselves in business until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him, and they sent off a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want him to reign over us.’

    And it came to be, that when he came back from accepting the kingdom, he said to call those slaves to whom he’d given the silver, so that he may perceive how they’d done in business. And the first came, saying, ‘Master! Your^- mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done good slave! Because you’ve^- been trustworthy in the least important thing, have authority over ten towns.’ And the second one came, saying, ‘Master! Your^- mina has made five minas.’ And he said also to this one, ‘You^- also will be over five towns.’ And another one came, saying, ‘Master! Look! I’ve kept your^- mina which I had, laid away in a napkin. For I was afraid of you^- because you’re^- a harsh person. You^- pick up what you^- didn’t put down, and you^- reap what you^- didn’t sow.’ And he said to him, ‘I’ll judge you^- by your^- own mouth you^- wicked slave! You^- know that I’m a harsh person, that I pick up what I didn’t put down, and reap what I didn’t sow. So why then didn’t you^- deposit my silver on the table^b, and when I came I would’ve collected it together with interest?’ And to those who were standing by he said, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master! He has ten minas!’) ‘For I say to you⁼, that all who have will be given more, and the one who doesn’t have, even what they have will be taken away from them. Except bring those enemies of mine who don’t want me to reign over them here, and slaughter them in front of me.’” And when he’d said these things he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

    And it came to be, as he came to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain which is called the Mount of Olives, he sent off two of his disciples, saying, “Go off into the village opposite, in which, when you’ve⁼ entered, you’ll⁼ find a foal tied up, on which nobody has ever ridden. Untie it and lead it here. And if anyone asks you⁼ why you’re⁼ untying it, say this to them, “Its master has a need.” And those who’d been sent off went and found it just as he’d said to them. And as they were untying the foal its masters said to them, ‘Why are you⁼ untying that foal?’ And they said, ‘Its master has a need.’ And they led it to Yeshua, and when they’d thrown their cloaks on the foal, they mounted Yeshua on it. And as he was going along they spread out their cloaks on the road. And as he was approaching the road down from the Mount of Olives the entire multitude of disciples began rejoicing — praising God in a loud voice for all the powerful works which they’d seen, saying, “The king who comes in the name of the lord^c [Yahweh] is blessed. Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places!”

    And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher! Rebuke your^- disciples!” But answering he said to them, “I say to you⁼, that if they’re silent the stones will cry out.” And as he approached, when he saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you’d^- perceived, even you^-, in this day of yours^-, the things which are for your^- peace. But now it’s hidden from your^- eyes. Days will come upon you^- when your^- enemies will throw up a barricade at you^-, and they’ll surround you^-, and constrain you^- from every side. And they’ll level you^- to the ground, and your^- children within you^-. And they won’t leave one stone upon another within you^-, because you^- didn’t perceive the time of your^- visitation.”

    And when he entered into the temple he began to throw out those who were buying and selling inside it, saying to them, “It’s been written, ‘My house is a house of prayer’, but you’ve⁼ made it a cave of robbers.” And he taught each day in the temple. And the chief priests and the scribes sought him out to destroy him, as did the leaders of the people. But they couldn’t find any way to do it, because the people were all hanging on him, listening.

20   And it came to be in one of those days, while he was teaching the people in the temple and bringing the good news, that the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came up to him, and they spoke to him, saying, “Tell us by what authority you^- do these things? And who has given this authority to you^-?” And answering, he said to them, “I’ll also ask you⁼ one question. Tell me, was the immersion of Yohannes from heaven or from people?” But they concluded among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘from heaven’ then he’ll say, ‘So why didn’t you⁼ trust him?’, but if we say ‘from people’ then all the people will stone us because they’ve been persuaded that Yohannes was a prophet.” And they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” And Yeshua said to them, “Neither will I tell you⁼ by what authority I do these things.”

    And he began to tell the people this analogy: “A certain person planted a vineyard, and he leased it out to farmers, and he went travelling for a considerable time. And in time he sent off a slave to the farmers, so they’d give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers whipped him, and sent him away empty handed. And he continued, sending another slave, but they whipped that one and dishonoured him, and sent him away empty handed. And he continued, sending a third one, but they wounded him, throwing him out. So the master of the vineyard said, ‘What will I do? I’ll send my beloved son, because when they see him they’ll respect him equally.’ But when they saw him the farmers reasoned amongst themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come here and let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours.’ And they threw him outside of the vineyard, and they killed him. Then what will the master of the vineyard do to them? He’ll come and destroy those farmers, and he’ll give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard this, they said, “May it never be!” And looking at them he said, “Then what’s this that’s been written, ‘The stone which those who build have rejected — this stone has become the head of the corner. And everyone who falls onto that stone will be shattered, yet it’ll winnow the one on whomever it falls.’”

    And at that hour the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay their hands on him, (but they were afraid of the people), because they perceived that he’d said this analogy against them. So they watched him carefully, and they secretly sent infiltrators who pretended to be righteous, so they might catch him out in something he said, in order to hand him over to the rule and authority of the provincial governor. And they inquired of him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you^- teach and speak correctly. And that you^- don’t accept appearances, but you^- teach the way of God in truth. Is it permitted for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But recognising their craftiness he said to them, “Why are you⁼ testing me? Show me a denarius^a. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” And they answered, “Caesar’s.” So he said to them, “So then, give the things of Caesar back to Caesar, and the things of God, to God.” And they weren’t able to catch him out by his declaration in front of the people. And marvelling at his answer, they were hushed.

    And some of the Sadducees, (who speak against a resurrection), came to inquire of him, saying, “Teacher. Moshe wrote to us that if anyone’s brother, who has a wife, dies, and he died childless, then he should take the wife of his brother, and he should raise up seed for his brother. Now, there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife but died childless. And the second one took the wife, but he also died childless. And the third took her, and similarly, all the seven also died but left no children behind. And last of all the woman died too. So In the resurrection, which of them will she be the wife of? For all seven had her as a wife.”

    And answering, Yeshua said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are deemed worthy of participating in that age, and of the resurrection from the dead, will neither marry nor be given in marriage. For they’re no longer able to die, for they’re equal^b to messengers, and, being sons of the resurrection, they’re sons of God. And even Moshe divulged the secret that the dead are raised, at the brambles when he said, ‘Lord^c [Yahweh], the god of Abraham, and the god of Yitshak, and the god of Yaakov.’ So he isn’t the god of the dead, but of the living. For to him, all are alive.” And answering, some of the scribes said, “Teacher, you’ve^- spoken well.” And they no longer dared to inquire anything more of him.

    And he said to them, “How do they say that the Anointed is the son of David? For David himself says in the scroll of psalms, ‘The lord^c [Yahweh] said to my lord, “Sit on my right until I place your^- enemies as a footstool for your^- feet.”’ So then, if David calls him ‘lord’, how is he his son?”

    While all the people were listening he said to his disciples, “Watch out for the scribes who want to walk around in robes, and who are fond of greetings in the marketplaces, and of the front seats in the synagogues, and of the best reclining places at dinners, and who devour the houses of widows, and who, for appearance’s sake, pray long prayers. They’ll receive a more severe condemnation.

21   And looking up he saw the rich throwing their offerings into the treasury. And he also saw a certain poor widow throwing in two leptons^a. And he said, “Truly, I say to you⁼, that this poor widow has thrown in more than all. For all these threw in their offerings to God from their overabundance, but she, from her need threw in all that she had to live on.”

    And some were talking about how the temple was adorned with quality stones and articles which had been offered. He said, “These things that you’re⁼ looking at — days will come when not one stone will be left on another which won’t be demolished.” And they inquired of him, saying, “Teacher. So when will this be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”

    And he said, “Watch out that you⁼ aren’t led astray. For many will come in my name, saying ‘I’m him.’ and, ‘The proper time is near.’ So don’t go after them. And whenever you⁼ hear of battles and instabilities, don’t be dismayed. For these things must take place first, but the fulfilment won’t come straightaway.” Then he said to them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There’ll be great earthquakes in various places, and there’ll be famines and pestilences. There’ll be terrors accompanied with great signs from the sky.

    But before all this they’ll lay their hands on you⁼ and persecute you⁼, handing you⁼ over to the synagogues and the jails, and you’ll⁼ be led before kings and governors on account of my name. This will eventually lead to you⁼ being a testimony. So then, put it into your⁼ hearts not to be anxious beforehand to defend yourselves. For I’ll give you⁼ a mouth, and wisdom that all those who oppose you⁼ won’t be able to contradict nor to stand against. And you’ll⁼ be handed over by parents, and relatives, and friends and brothers, and they’ll put some of you⁼ to death. And you’ll⁼ be hated by everyone because of my name. But not a hair from your⁼ head will be destroyed at all. In your⁼ perseverance you’ll⁼ gain possession of your⁼ lives.

    And when you⁼ see Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then perceive that her desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains, and let those in the midst of her get out, and don’t let those who are in the countryside enter into her. Because these days of avenging are to fulfil everything which has been written. But woe to those who are pregnant^b or nursing^c in those days. For there’ll be great distress on the land, and wrath against this people. And they’ll fall at the point of a sword, and they’ll be led into captivity to all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the nations until the times of the nations are completed.

    And there’ll be signs in the sun, and the moon, and the stars. And on the earth there’ll be an anguish of the nations, at the difficulty of dealing with the roaring and the tossing of the sea. People will be frozen from fear and the expectation of what’s coming on the inhabited world because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they’ll see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. So when these things start happening, straighten up and lift your⁼ heads, because your⁼ redemption is near.”

    And he spoke this analogy to them, “Observe the fig tree, and all the other trees. When you⁼ observe for yourselves that they’re sprouting, then you⁼ perceive that summer is already near. In the same way also, when you⁼ see these things happening, then perceive that the kingdom of God is near. Amen^d, I say to you⁼, that that generation won’t have passed away at all until all these things have come to be. The sky and the earth will pass away, but my messages won’t pass away at all.

    Watch out for yourselves, otherwise your⁼ hearts might be weighed down with headaches from overindulgence, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and then that day will suddenly be on you⁼ unforseen. For it’ll come like a trap upon all those who are settled on the face of the earth. So then, be vigilant at all times, pleading that you⁼ might be deemed worthy to escape all these things which are about to happen, and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”

    During the days he was teaching in the temple, and at nights going and spending the night on the mountain, (the one called “of Olives”). And early in the morning, all the people were coming to him in the temple to hear him.

22   Now, the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover^a, was drawing near. And the chief priests and scribes were seeking how they might kill him, because they were afraid of the people. And Satan^b entered into Yehuda, the one usually called Iscarioth, one of the Twelve. And he went off and discussed with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guards about how he might hand him over to them. And they rejoiced and they agreed together to give him silver. And he consented, and he sought an opportunity to hand him over to them away from the crowd.

    Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover^a has to be sacrificed. And he sent Petros and Yohannes off, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover^a for us, so we may eat it.” But they said to him, “Where do you^- want us to prepare it?” And he said to them, “Look! When you⁼ enter into the town a person carrying a clay jar of water will meet you⁼. Follow him into the house he’s going to. And you’ll⁼ say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher says to you⁼, “Where’s the lodging where I may eat the Passover^a with my disciples?”’ And he’ll show you⁼ a large upper room with places all around it. Prepare things there.” And they went away and they found things just as he’d said to them. And they prepared the Passover^a.

    And when the hour came, he reclined with his twelve ambassadors. And he said to them, “I’ve deeply desired^c to eat this Passover^a with you⁼ before my suffering.” For I say to you⁼, that I’ll no longer eat of it at all, until it’s fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he accepted the cup, and when he’d given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it amongst yourselves. For I say to you⁼, that I won’t drink the produce of the grapevine at all until the kingdom of God has come. And he took the bread, and when he’d given thanks, he broke it and offered it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given on your⁼ behalf. Do this in order to remember me.” And similarly after dining, the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out on your⁼ behalf. Except look! The hand of the one who’s handing me over is with me on the table. And indeed the Son of Man is going as it’s been determined. Except woe to the person through whom he’s handed over.” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was about to commit this thing.

    And a rivalry arose amongst them, about which of them was thought to be the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them. And those in authority over them are called benefactors. But it isn’t this way with you⁼. Let the greatest among you⁼ become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. For who’s greater? The one who reclines or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines? But I’m in the midst of you⁼ like one who serves. And you⁼, you’re⁼ the ones who’ve remained with me throughout my trials. And I’m conferring a kingdom on you⁼, just as my father conferred it on me — so that you⁼ may eat and drink at my table in the kingdom, and you⁼ may sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yisrael.”

    And the lord said, “Shimon. Shimon. Look! Satan^b has demanded to winnow you⁼ [all] like grain. But I’ve pleaded for you^- [Shimon], that your^- faith won’t cease. And when you’ve^- turned around, steady your^- brothers.” But he said to him, “Lord, I’m prepared to go to jail with you^-, and to death.” But he said, “I say to you^- Petros, no rooster will crow at all today until you’ve^- renounced that you^- know me three times.”

    And he said to them, “When I sent you⁼ out without a money bag, or pouch, or sandals — did you⁼ lack anything?” And they said, “Nothing.” And then he said to them, “But now, let whoever has a money bag pick it up, and likewise a pouch. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I say to you⁼, that what’s been written, ‘And he was counted with the lawless’, must still be fulfilled in me. For the things concerning me have a fulfilment.” And they said, “Lord. Look! Here are two swords.” And he said to them, “That’s sufficient.”

    And, as usual, he went out to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. And when they came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you⁼ don’t enter into a trial.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw away, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you^- consent^d then take this cup away from me. Except, let your^- will come to be, not my will. And a messenger from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. And becoming conflicted, he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat became like clots of blood landing on the ground. And when he got up from the prayer, he came to the disciples and found them fallen asleep from the sadness. And he said to them, “Why are you⁼ sleeping? Get up and pray that you⁼ don’t enter into a trial.”

    Yet, while he was still speaking. Look! A crowd, and the one called Yehuda, one of the Twelve, came up to them. And he came near to Yeshua to kiss him. But Yeshua said to him, “Yehuda, are you^- handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those around him saw what was going to happen, they said to him, “Lord. Should we strike them with a sword?” And a certain one of them struck the slave of the chief priest, cutting off his right ear. And answering Yeshua said, “Allow even this!” and touching the hole of his ear, he healed him.

    And Yeshua said to those who’d come up to him, the chief priests, the officers of the temple guards, and the elders, “Have you⁼ come out with swords and sticks as if I was a robber? Each day when I was with you⁼ in the temple you⁼ didn’t stretch out your⁼ hands to seize me. But this is your⁼ hour, and the authority of darkness.” And they seized him, and they led him away, and took him to the house of the chief priest. And Petros followed at a distance.

    And when they’d lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Petros sat down in the midst of them. And a certain slave girl who’d seen him sitting facing the light, and had stared at him, said, “This one was with him too.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him!” And shortly after, someone else saw him and declared, “You’re^- also one of them.” But Petros said, “Man, I’m not.” And about an hour later a certain other one said strongly, “For certain this man was also with him, because he’s a Galilean.” But Petros said, “Man! I don’t know what you’re^- talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And the lord turned and looked at Petros, and Petros was reminded of when the lord had said to him, “Before the rooster crows you’ll^- renounce me three times.” And Petros went outside and he wept bitterly.

    And the men who were constraining Yeshua were mocking and whipping him. And they covered him and they beat his face, and they asked him, saying, “Prophesy! Who was it who hit you^-?” And they said many other evil things against him. And as it became day, the eldership of the people was gathered with the chief priests and the scribes, and they led him into their Sanhedrin^e, saying, “If you’re^- the Anointed, tell us!” And he said to them, “Even if I told you⁼, you⁼ wouldn’t believe me at all. And even if I asked, you⁼ wouldn’t answer me at all, or release me. From now on, the Son of Man will be sitting at the right hand of the power of God.” And they all said, “Then you’re^- the son of God?” And he declared to them, “You⁼ yourselves are saying that I am.” And they said, “Why do we still need to have testimony, for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.”

23   And the entire multitude of them stood up and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this one perverting the nation, forbidding the paying of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Anointed, a king.”

    And Pilate questioned him saying, “You’re^- the king of the Jews?” And answering him he declared, “You^- yourself are saying it.” And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no fault in this person.” But they were insistent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way to here.” And when Pilate heard “Galilee”, he inquired if he was a Galilean. And when he realised that he was from the authority of Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.

    And when Herod saw Yeshua he rejoiced greatly because he’d been wanting to see him for a considerable time — because he’d heard many things about him, and he expected to see him perform some sign. So he questioned him with a considerable number of questions, but he didn’t answer him. And the chief priests and the scribes stood and accused him vigorously. So Herod, together with his soldiers, scorned him. And when they’d mocked him, they clothed him in a splendid garment and he sent him back to Pilate. And Pilate and Herod became friends with one another on that day, for beforehand there had been hostility between them.

    And Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, “You⁼ brought this person to me as one who was leading the people astray. And look! I’ve examined him in front of you⁼, but I haven’t found any fault in this person regarding those things you’re⁼ accusing him of. And neither did Herod, for I sent you⁼ up to him. And look! He hasn’t committed anything which is deserving of death. I will discipline him, and then release him.” (It was necessary to release one person to them because of the festival).

    But they all cried out with one voice, saying, “Take him away! But release Barabbas to us!” (He’d been thrown into jail for a certain insurrection which had taken place in the city, and for murder). But wanting to release Yeshua, Pilate called out to them again, but they kept on calling back, “Execute^a! Execute him!” So, the third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I haven’t found any fault of death in him. I will discipline him, and then release him.” But they persisted with loud voices, demanding for him to be executed^a. And their voices, and those of the chief priests, prevailed. And so Pilate decided to grant their demand. And he released the one they requested, who’d been thrown into jail for insurrection and murder. And he handed Yeshua over to their will.

    And as they led him away, they took hold of Shimon, a certain Cyrenian who’d come in from the fields, and placed the stake^b on him to carry it behind Yeshua. And a large multitude of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. And turning towards them, Yeshua said, “Daughters of Jerusalem. Don’t weep for me, but weep only for yourselves and for your⁼ children, because look! Days are coming in which they’ll say, ‘The barren are blessed, and those whose belly has never borne, and whose breasts have never nursed^c.’ Then they’ll begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will happen when it’s dried?”

    And there were also two others, criminals, who were led out to be killed together with him. And when they came to the place called “The Skull”, they executed^a him there along with the criminals — one indeed on his right, and one on his left. And Yeshua said, “Father, pardon them, because they aren’t aware of what they’re doing.” And they cast lots to divide up his clothes.

    And the people were standing there looking on, and the rulers sneered, saying together with them, “He saves others. Let him save himself if he’s the Anointed, the selected one of God!” And the soldiers were also mocking him, coming up and offering him wine vinegar, and saying, “If you’re^- the king of the Jews, then save yourself!” And there was an inscription which had been written above him, in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew, “This is the king of the Jews”. And one of the criminals who’d been hung there spoke evil about him, saying, “If you’re^- the Anointed, then save yourself, and us!” But answering, the other one rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you^- even fear God? Since you’re^- condemned to the same thing. And indeed, we’re getting what we rightly deserve for what we’ve committed. But he hasn’t done anything out of place.” And he said to Yeshua, “Remember me lord, when you^- come into your^- kingdom.” And Yeshua said to him, “Amen^d, I say to you^-, you’ll^- be with me in paradise^e today^f.”

    And it was about the sixth hour^g, and darkness came over the whole of the land until the ninth hour^h. The sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn down the middle. And when he’d called out in a loud voice, Yeshua said, “Father, I’ll place my spirit into your^- hands.” And when he’d said these things, he breathed his lastⁱ.

    When he saw what had happened, the centurion glorified God saying, “Truly, this person was righteous.” And all the crowds who’d come out together and who were watching these things happening, returned, beating their breasts. But all those who knew him, and the women who’d followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

    And look! There was a man named Yosef, a council member, and a good and righteous man, who hadn’t agreed with their advice and action. He was from Arimathea, (a town of the Jews), and he was also anticipating the kingdom of God himself. He approached Pilate and requested the body of Yeshua. And he took it down, and he wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb, which was hewn out of the rock, in which no one had ever been laid. That day was the preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin^j. And the women who’d come with him from Galilee, followed along and gazed at the tomb and how his body was placed. And when they returned, they prepared spices and perfumes. But, in accordance with the commandment, they rested on the Sabbath.

24   But on the day after the Sabbath^a, very early in the morning, together with some others, they came to the tomb, carrying the spices which they’d prepared. But they found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, and when they entered in they didn’t find the body of the lord Yeshua. And it came to be, while they were bewildered about this, that look! Two men stood next to them in garments that shone like lightning. And while they were terrified and lowering their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why do you⁼ seek the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but he’s been raised. Recall how he told you⁼ when you⁼ were still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of sinful people, and be executed^b, and rise up again on the third day.’” And they were reminded of what he’d said.

    And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. And it was Maria Magdalene^c, Yohanna, Maria of Yaakov, and the rest of the women with them who told these things to the ambassadors. But it appeared to them that what they were saying was nonsense, and they didn’t believe them. But Petros got up and ran to the tomb, and peering in he saw only the strips of linen cloth lying there, and he went away, marvelling to himself at what had happened.

    And look! That same day, two of them were on their way to a village about sixty stadia^d [almost ten kilometres] from Jerusalem, called Emmaus. And they were conversing with one another about all that had happened. And it came to be, while they were conversing and discussing with each other, that Yeshua himself came up to them and went along with them. But their eyes were restrained and they didn’t recognise who he was. And he said to them, “What are you⁼ discussing back and forth with one another as you’re⁼ walking along? And why do you⁼ have such sad faces?” And answering, the one named Cleopas said to him, “Are you^- only sojourning^e in Jerusalem and you^- don’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?”

    And they said to him, “The things concerning Yeshua of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet — powerful in actions and words before God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they executed^b him. And we had expected that he was the one who was about to ransom back Yisrael. And besides all these things, today is the third day since these things took place, and some of our women have amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning but they didn’t find his body, and they came back saying that they’d seen a vision of messengers who said that he’s alive. And some from among us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” And he said to them, “Oh fools! Your⁼ hearts are so slow to trust in all the things which the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Anointed have to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” And beginning from Moshe and all of the prophets, he interpreted to them what was said in all the writings about himself.

    And as they approached the village where they were going, he behaved as though he was going on further. And they urged him, saying, “Stay here with us, because it’s dusk and the day has declined already.” And so he went in to stay with them. And it came to be, as he reclined with them, that he took the bread and he blessed it, and when he’d broken it, he handed it to them, and their eyes were opened and they recognised him. But he disappeared from them, and they said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning as he spoke to us on the road, and as he explained the writings to us!”

    And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the Eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The lord has been raised. Truly. And he’s appeared to Shimon.” And they themselves related in full the things which had happened on the road, and how he was perceived by them in the breaking of the bread. And as they were saying these things, Yeshua himself stood in the middle of them and said to them, “Peace to you⁼.” And they were terrified and became frightened, thinking that they were looking at a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you⁼ troubled? And what thinking is arising in your⁼ hearts? See my hands, and my feet. It’s me. Feel me and see, because a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones like you⁼ observe that I have.” And when he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still didn’t believe because of their joy and marvelling, he said to them, “Do you⁼ have any food in this place?” So they handed him part of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And taking it he ate it in front of them.

    And he said to them, “This is what I told you⁼ about while I was still with you⁼. That everything which has been written about me in the law of Moshe, in the prophets, and in the psalms had to be fulfilled.” Then he opened up their minds to understand the writings. And he said to them, “Just as it’s been written, in the same way the Anointed had to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day. And that the repentance and pardoning of sins must be proclaimed in his name, to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you⁼ yourselves are witnesses of these things. And look! I send what my father has promised to you⁼. But sit still in the city of Jerusalem until you’ve⁼ put on^f power from on high.”

    And he led them out into the area of Bethany. And he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to be, as he was blessing them, that he stood apart from them, and he was carried up into the sky. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were constantly in the temple, praising and blessing God.

    Amen^g.