Matthew, 22

1. And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

1. Jesus went on speaking to them in parables:

2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

2. "This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king celebrated the wedding of his son.

3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

3. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.

4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage.

4. Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the invited guests: 'I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves and other animals, and now everything is ready; come then, to the wedding feast.'

5. But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

5. But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields, and others to their work.

6. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].

6. While the rest seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them.

7. But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

7. The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.

8. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

8. Then he said to his servants: 'The wedding banquet is prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy.

9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

9. Go, then, to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.'

10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

10. The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered everyone they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests.

11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

11. The king came in to see those who were at table, and he noticed a man not wearing the festal garment.

12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

12. So he said to him: 'Friend, how did you get in without the wedding garment?' But the man remained silent.

13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13. So the king said to his servants: 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the dark where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

14. For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

14. Know that many are called, but few are chosen."

15. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk.

15. The Pharisees went out and took counsel on how they could trap Jesus with his own words.

16. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men.

16. They then sent their disciples with the members of Herod's party for this purpose. They said to Jesus, "Master, we know that you are an honest man and truly teach God's way; you are not influenced by others nor are you afraid of anyone.

17. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

17. Tell us, then, what you think: is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?

18. But Jesus understood their evil intent, and said to them, "Hypocrites! Why are you testing me?

19. Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

19. Show me the coin with which you pay the taxes." They showed him a denarius,

20. And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription?

20. and Jesus said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose name?"

21. They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

21. They answered, "Caesar's." Then Jesus replied, "Therefore, return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

22. When they had heard [these words], they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

22. Astonished by his answer, they left him and went away.

23. The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

23. That same day, some of the Sadducees came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way,

24. Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

24. "Master, Moses said that if anyone dies without any children, his brother must take the wife and have a child who will be considered the child of the deceased man.

25. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

25. Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, and he died; since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

26. Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

26. The same thing happened to the second and to the third until the seventh.

27. And last of all the woman died also.

27. Then, last of all, the woman also died.

28. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

28. Now, in the resurrection of the dead, to which of the seven will she be wife, for all had her as wife?"

29. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

29. Jesus answered, "You are totally wrong because you understand neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

30. First of all, in the resurrection of the dead, neither men nor women will marry, but they will be like the angels in heaven.

31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

31. As for the resurrection of the dead, have you never reflected on what God said to you:

32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

32. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is God, not of the dead but of the living."

33. And when the multitude heard [this], they were astonished at his doctrine.

33. The people who heard him were astonished at his teaching.

34. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

34. When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.

35. Then one of them, [which was] a lawyer, asked [him a question], tempting him, and saying,

35. One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test him with this question,

36. Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?

36. "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?"

37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

37. Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.

38. This is the first and great commandment.

38. This is the first and the most important of the commandments.

39. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

39. But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

40. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments."

41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

41. As the Pharisees were gathered there, Jesus asked them,

42. Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The Son] of David.

42. "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he to be?" They answered, "David's."

43. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

43. Jesus then asked, "Why did David, inspired by God, call the Messiah Lord? For he says in a psalm:

44. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

44. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right until I put your enemies under your feet.

45. If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

45. If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?"

46. And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any [man] from that day forth ask him any more [questions].

46. No one could answer him, not even a word. From that day on, no one dared question him anymore.