Part 5 (1/2)

[36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

[37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

[38] And it came to pa.s.s, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

[39] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

[40] Give us day by day our daily bread.

[41] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

[42] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; [43] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

[44] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

[45] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

[46] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

[47] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

[48] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

[49] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

[50] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

CHAPTER 9.

[1] And it came to pa.s.s, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

[2] And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

[3] And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

[4] And they held their peace.

[5] And he saith unto them, Which of you shall have an a.s.s or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

[6] And they could not answer him again to these things.

[7] And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.

[8] When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; [9] And he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

[10] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have wors.h.i.+p in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

[11] For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

[12] Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

[13] But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: [14] And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

[15] Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: [16] And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

[17] And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

[18] And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

[19] And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

[20] So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

[21] And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

[22] And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

[23] For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

[24] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

[25] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [26] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

[27] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

[28] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an amba.s.sage, and desireth conditions of peace.

[29] Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

[30] And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

[31] And he spake this parable unto them, saying, [32] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

[33] And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

[34] And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

[35] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

[36] Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

[37] And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.