Luke 11:21-53

²¹When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth.

²²But if a stronger than he come upon him, and overcome him; he will take away all his armour wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils.

²³He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.

²⁴When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest; and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out.

²⁵And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished.

²⁶Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.

²⁸But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.

²⁹And the multitudes running together, he began to say: This generation is a wicked generation: it asketh a sign, and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

³⁰For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninivites; so shall the Son of man also be to this generation.

³¹The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold more than Solomon here.

³²The men of Ninive shall rise in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas; and behold more than Jonas here.

³³No man lighteth a candle, and putteth it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel; but upon a candlestick, that they that come in, may see the light.

³⁴The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome: but if it be evil, thy body also will be darksome.

³⁵Take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee, be not darkness.

³⁶If then thy whole body be lightsome, having no part of darkness; the whole shall be lightsome; and as a bright lamp, shall enlighten thee.

³⁷And as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee prayed him, that he would dine with him. And he going in, sat down to eat.

³⁸And the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself, why he was not washed before dinner.

³⁹And the Lord said to him: Now you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inside is full of rapine and iniquity.

⁴⁰Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without, make also that which is within?

⁴¹But yet that which remaineth, give alms; and behold, all things are clean unto you.

⁴²But woe to you, Pharisees, because you tithe mint and rue and every herb; and pass over judgment, and the charity of God. Now these things you ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

⁴³Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the marketplace.

⁴⁴Woe to you, because you are as sepulchres that appear not, and men that walk over are not aware.

⁴⁵And one of the lawyers answering, saith to him: Master, in saying these things, thou reproachest us also.

⁴⁶But he said: Woe to you lawyers also, because you load men with burdens which they cannot bear, and you yourselves touch not the packs with one of your fingers.

⁴⁷Woe to you who build the monuments of the prophets: and your fathers killed them.

⁴⁸Truly you bear witness that you consent to the doings of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and you build their sepulchres.

⁴⁹For this cause also the wisdom of God said: I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute.

⁵⁰That the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,

⁵¹From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, who was slain between the alter and the temple: Yea I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.

⁵²Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered in, and those that were entering in, you have hindered.

⁵³And as he was saying these things to them, the Pharisees and the lawyers began violently to urge him, and to oppress his mouth about many things,