The Life of Jesus

and he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now are all things ready.

`And they began with one consent all to excuse themselves: The first said to him, A field I bought, and I have need to go forth and see it; I beg of thee, have me excused.

`And another said, Five yoke of oxen I bought, and I go on to prove them; I beg of thee, have me excused:

and another said, A wife I married, and because of this I am not able to come.

`And that servant having come, told to his lord these things, then the master of the house, having been angry, said to his servant, Go forth quickly to the broad places and lanes of the city, and the poor, and maimed, and lame, and blind, bring in hither.

`And the servant said, Sir, it hath been done as thou didst command, and still there is room.

`And the lord said unto the servant, Go forth to the ways and hedges, and constrain to come in, that my house may be filled;

for I say to you, that none of those men who have been called shall taste of my supper.'

And there were going on with him great multitudes, and having turned, he said unto them,

`If any one doth come unto me, and doth not hate his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yet even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple;

and whoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.

`For who of you, willing to build a tower, doth not first, having sat down, count the expence, whether he have the things for completing?

lest that he having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish, all who are beholding may begin to mock him,

saying--This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

`Or what king going on to engage with another king in war, doth not, having sat down, first consult if he be able with ten thousand to meet him who with twenty thousand is coming against him?

and if not so--he being yet a long way off--having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.

`So, then, every one of you who doth not take leave of all that he himself hath, is not able to be my disciple.

`The salt is good, but if the salt doth become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?

neither for land nor for manure is it fit--they cast it without. He who is having ears to hear--let him hear.'

And all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming nigh to him, to hear him,

and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying--This one doth receive sinners, and doth eat with them.'

And he spake unto them this simile, saying,

`What man of you having a hundred sheep, and having lost one out of them, doth not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go on after the lost one, till he may find it?

and having found, he doth lay it on his shoulders rejoicing,

and having come to the house, he doth call together the friends and the neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep--the lost one.