From Barrenness to Purpose and Power

1. Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2. He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3. This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there. 4. When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions; 5. but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb. 6. Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb. 7. As he did so year by year, when she went up to Yahweh’s house. Her rival provoked her; therefore she wept, and didn’t eat. 8. Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9. So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple. 10. She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly. 11. She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.” 12. As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth. 13. Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14. Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15. Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. 16. Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.” 17. Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.” 18. She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more. 19. They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her. 20. When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.” 21. The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22. But Hannah didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and stay there forever.” 23. Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 24. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young. 25. They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26. She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh. 27. I prayed for this child; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him. 28. Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there. 1. Hannah prayed, and said: “My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2. There is no one as holy as Yahweh, For there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God. 3. “Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed. 4. “The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes. 6. “Yahweh kills, and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up. 7. Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up. 8. He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them. 9. He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength. 10. Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. “Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 11. Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest. 12. Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn’t know Yahweh. 13. The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand; 14. and he stabbed it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. The priest took all that the fork brought up for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15. Yes, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.” 16. If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires”; then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.” 17. The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh. 18. But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. 19. Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20. Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.” Then they went to their own home. 21. Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh. 22. Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 23. He said to them, “Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. 24. No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey. 25. If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them. 26. The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men. 27. A man of God came to Eli, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? 28. Didn’t I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Didn’t I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29. Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?’ 30. “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be cursed. 31. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father’s house, that there will not be an old man in your house. 32. You will see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which I will give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33. The man of yours, whom I don’t cut off from my altar, will consume your eyes and grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age. 34. “‘This will be the sign to you, that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they will both die. 35. I will raise me up a faithful priest, that will do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house; and he will walk before my anointed forever. 36. It will happen, that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, “Please put me into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”’” 1. The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was precious in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2. At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3. and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Yahweh’s temple, where God’s ark was; 4. Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5. He ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down. 6. Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.” 7. Now Samuel didn’t yet know Yahweh, neither was Yahweh’s word yet revealed to him. 8. Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. 9. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.” 11. Yahweh said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end. 13. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them. 14. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.” 15. Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 16. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.” 17. He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.” 18. Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.” 19. Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh. 21. Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by Yahweh’s word.

1. He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2. He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick. 3. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats each. 4. Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there. 5. As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” 6. They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere. 7. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8. and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him. 10. The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a desert region of a city called Bethsaida. 11. But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing. 12. The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.” 13. But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.” 14. For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15. They did so, and made them all sit down. 16. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17. They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over. 18. As he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?” 19. They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.” 20. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21. But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22. saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.” 23. He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 24. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. 25. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? 26. For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. 27. But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.” 28. About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30. Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31. who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33. As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. 34. While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35. A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” 36. When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. 37. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. 38. Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39. Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely. 40. I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.” 41. Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42. While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43. They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44. “Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.” 45. But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. 46. There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest. 47. Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side, 48. and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.” 49. John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.” 50. Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.” 51. It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52. and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. 53. They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem. 54. When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” 55. But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are. 56. For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village. 57. As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.” 58. Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59. He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 60. But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.” 61. Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.” 62. But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.” 1. Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. 2. Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 3. Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4. Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 5. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6. If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7. Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 8. Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9. Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 10. But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11. ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 12. I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. 13. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16. Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17. The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18. He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. 19. Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 20. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21. In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.” 22. Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.” 23. Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, 24. for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.” 25. Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26. He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27. He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28. He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29. But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 30. Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34. came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36. Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37. He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 38. As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41. Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42. but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” 1. When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2. He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3. Give us day by day our daily bread. 4. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” 5. He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6. for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ 7. and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? 8. I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. 9. “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 11. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12. Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” 14. He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 16. Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. 18. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19. But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore will they be your judges. 20. But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. 21. “When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. 22. But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder. 23. “He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. 24. The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ 25. When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. 26. Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” 27. It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” 28. But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” 29. When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. 30. For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation. 31. The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here. 32. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here. 33. “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. 34. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. 35. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. 36. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.” 37. Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table. 38. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner. 39. The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. 40. You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the outside make the inside also? 41. But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you. 42. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 43. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.” 45. One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.” 46. He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens. 47. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48. So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49. Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, 50. that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51. from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52. Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.” 53. As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him; 54. lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him. 1. Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2. But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. 3. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4. “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6. “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. 7. But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 8. “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God; 9. but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12. for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.” 13. One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14. But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15. He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” 16. He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ 18. He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20. “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21. So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 22. He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25. Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26. If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27. Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29. Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. 32. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35. “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. 36. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. 37. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. 38. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. 39. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.” 41. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?” 42. The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43. Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44. Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46. then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47. That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48. but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked. 49. “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. 50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51. Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. 52. For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53. They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” 54. He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55. When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? 57. Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58. For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59. I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.”

1. To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens. 2. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us. 3. Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.