12

than John the Immerser. But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

And from the days of John the Immerser until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the vio13 lent seize upon it. For all 14 law prophesied until John. 15 receive it, he is the Elijah

16

the prophets and the And if ye are willing to that should come. He

that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But whereto shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, who call 17 to their fellows, and say: We piped to you, and ye

danced not; we sang the lament, and ye beat not 18 the breast. For John came neither eating nor drink19 ing, and they say, He has a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified on the part of her children.

20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his miracles were done, because they repented not. 21 Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have re22 pented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.

V. 15. In some ancient copies: He that hath ears, let him hear.

And thou, Capernaum, that wast exalted to heaven, 23 shalt go down to the underworld. For if the miracles that have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But 24 I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

At that time Jesus answered and said: I thank 25 thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and discerning, and hast revealed them to babes; yea, O Father, 26 that so it seemed good in thy sight! All things 27 are delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son but the Father; nor does any one know the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son is pleased to reveal him.

Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy 28 laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 29 you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls. For 30 my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

XII. Ar that time Jesus went on the sabbath 1 through the grain fields; and his disciples hungered, and began to pluck ears of grain, and to eat. And 2 the Pharisees seeing it said to him: Behold, thy dis

V. 23. In the oldest copies: shalt thou be exalted to heav en? Thou shalt go down to the underworld.

ciples are doing that which it is not lawful to do on 3 the sabbath. And he said to them: Have ye not read what David did, when he hungered, himself and 4 those with him; how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for 5 the priests alone? Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane 6 the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say to you, 7 that a greater than the temple is here. But if ye had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the blameless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath. 9 And departing from thence, he went into their 10 synagogue. And behold, there was a man, having his hand withered. And they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might. 11 accuse him. And he said to them: What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay 12 hold of it, and raise it up? How much better then is a man than a sheep! So that it is lawful to do Then says he to the man: And he stretched it forth;

13 well on the sabbath. Stretch forth thy hand.

and it was restored whole, as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and took counsel 15 against him, how they might destroy him. But Jesus knowing it, withdrew himself from thence; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all, and charged them that they should not 16 make him known. That it might be fulfilled which 17 was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Be-18 hold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; nor shall 19 any one hear his voice in the streets. A bruised 20 reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall Gentiles hope.

21

Then was brought to him one possessed with a 22 devil, blind, and dumb; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And 23 all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is this the Son of David? But the Pharisees hearing it 24 said: This man does not cast out devils, except through Beelzebul prince of the devils. And Jesus, 25 knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided 26 against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I through Beelzebul cast out devils, through 27 whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if through the Spirit 28

V. 22. The oldest copies omit, blind, and both.

of God I cast out devils, then is the kingdom of 29 God come near to you. Or how can any one enter into a strong man's house, and seize upon his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30

31

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.

Therefore I say to you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against 32 the Spirit shall not be forgiven men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.

33

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for by the fruit the tree is known.

34 Brood of vipers! How can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the 35 heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of the good treasure sends forth good things; and the evil man out of the evil treasure sends forth evil things 36 But I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the 37 day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisecs answered him saying: Teacher, we desire to see a 39 sign from thee. But he answered and said to them: