| Chapter 16 |
1 | And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. |
2 | And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer. |
3 | And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. |
4 | I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. |
5 | Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? |
6 | But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty. |
7 | Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty. |
8 | And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. |
9 | And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings. |
10 | He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater. |
11 | If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon; who will trust you with that which is the true? |
12 | And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's; who will give you that which is your own? |
13 | No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. |
14 | Now the Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. |
15 | And he said to them: You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is high to men, is an abomination before God. |
16 | The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every one useth violence towards it. |
17 | And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall. |
18 | Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, commmitteth adultery. |
19 | There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. |
20 | And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, |
21 | Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. |
22 | And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. |
23 | And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: |
24 | And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. |
25 | And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented. |
26 | And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. |
27 | And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, |
28 | That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. |
29 | And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. |
30 | But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. |
31 | And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead. |