< Mark 12 >
1 And he began to speake vnto them in parables, A certaine man planted a vineyard, and copassed it with an hedge, and digged a pit for the winepresse, and built a tower in it, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange countrey.
Jesus began to speak to them in parables, ‘A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad.
2 And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a seruant, that he might receiue of the husbandmen of the fruite of the vineyard.
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the grape harvest;
3 But they tooke him, and beat him, and sent him away emptie.
but they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4 And againe he sent vnto them another seruant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted.
5 And againe he sent another, and him they slew, and many other, beating some, and killing some.
He sent another, but him they killed; and so with many others – some they beat and some they killed.
6 Yet had he one sonne, his deare beloued: him also he sent the last vnto them, saying, They will reuerence my sonne.
He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. “They will respect my son,” he said.
7 But ye husbandmen said among themselues, This is the heire: come, let vs kill him, and the inheritance shalbe ours.
But those tenants said to one another “Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.”
8 So they tooke him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard.
9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard doe? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and giue the vineyard to others.
What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others.
10 Haue ye not read so much as this Scripture? The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner.
‘Have you never read this passage of scripture? – “The stone which the builders despised has now itself become the cornerstone;
11 This was done of the Lord, and it is marueilous in our eyes.
this cornerstone has come from the Lord, and is marvellous in our eyes.”’
12 Then they went about to take him, but they feared the people: for they perceiued that he spake that parable against them: therefore they left him, and went their way.
After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they left him alone, and went away.
13 And they sent vnto him certaine of the Pharises, and of ye Herodians that they might take him in his talke.
Afterwards they sent to Jesus some of the Pharisees and Herodians, to set a trap for him in the course of conversation.
14 And when they came, they saide vnto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou considerest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God truely, Is it lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar, or not?
These men came to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of anyone, for you pay no regard to a person’s position, but teach the way of God honestly; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?
15 Should we giue it, or should we not giue it? but he knew their hypocrisie, and said vnto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a peny, that I may see it.
Should we pay, or should we not pay?’ Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin to look at.’
16 So they brought it, and he said vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? and they said vnto him, Cesars.
And, when they had brought it, he asked, ‘Whose head and title are these?’ ‘The Emperor’s,’ they said;
17 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Giue to Cesar the things that are Cesars, and to God, those that are Gods: and they marueiled at him.
and Jesus replied, ‘Pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God.’ And they were amazed at him.
18 Then came the Sadduces vnto him, (which say, there is no resurrection) and they asked him, saying,
Next came some Sadducees – the men who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this –
19 Master, Moses wrote vnto vs, If any mans brother die, and leaue his wife, and leaue no children, that his brother should take his wife, and rayse vp seede vnto his brother.
‘Teacher, in our scriptures Moses decreed that, should a man’s brother die, leaving a widow but no child, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother.
20 There were seuen brethren, and the first tooke a wife, and when he died, left no issue.
There were once seven brothers. The eldest married, but died and left no family;
21 Then the seconde tooke her, and he died, neither did he yet leaue issue, and the third likewise:
and the second married his widow, and died without family; and so did the third.
22 So those seuen had her, and left no yssue: last of all the wife died also.
All the seven died and left no family. The woman herself died last of all.
23 In the resurrection then, when they shall rise againe, whose wife shall she be of them? for seuen had her to wife.
At the resurrection whose wife will she be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?’
24 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Are ye not therefore deceiued, because ye knowe not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?
‘Is not the reason of your mistake,’ answered Jesus, ‘your ignorance of the scriptures and of the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise againe from the dead, neither men marry, nor wiues are married, but are as the Angels which are in heauen.
When people rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married; but they are as angels in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead, that they shall rise againe, haue ye not read in the booke of Moses, howe in the bush God spake vnto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob?
‘As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him saying – “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”?
27 God is not ye God of the dead, but the God of the liuing. Ye are therefore greatly deceiued.
He is not God of dead people, but of living. You are greatly mistaken.’
28 Then came one of the Scribes that had heard them disputing together, and perceiuing that he had answered them well, he asked him, Which is the first commandement of all?
Then came up one of the teachers of the Law who had heard their discussions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’
29 Iesus answered him, The first of all the commandements is, Heare, Israel, The Lord our God is the onely Lord.
‘The most important,’ answered Jesus, ‘is – “Hear, Israel; the Lord our God is the one Lord;
30 Thou shalt therefore loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy minde, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandement.
and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
31 And the second is like, that is, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. There is none other commandement greater then these.
The second is this – “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’
32 Then that Scribe said vnto him, Well, Master, thou hast saide the trueth, that there is one God, and that there is none but he,
‘Wisely answered, teacher!’ exclaimed the teacher of the Law. ‘It is true, as you say, that there is one God, and that there is no other besides him;
33 And to loue him with all the heart, and with all the vnderstanding, and with all the soule, and with all the strength, and to loue his neighbour as himselfe, is more then all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
and to love him with all one’s heart, and with all one’s understanding, and with all one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbour as one loves oneself is far beyond all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
34 Then when Iesus saw that he answered discreetely, he saide vnto him, Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God. And no man after that durst aske him any question.
Seeing that he had answered with discernment, Jesus said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one ventured to question him further.
35 And Iesus answered and said teaching in the Temple, Howe say the Scribes that Christ is the sonne of Dauid?
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple Courts, he asked, ‘How is it that the teachers of the Law say that the Christ is to be David’s son?
36 For Dauid himselfe said by ye holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footestoole.
David said himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – “The Lord said to my lord: Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”
37 Then Dauid himselfe calleth him Lord: by what meanes is he then his sonne? and much people heard him gladly.
David himself calls him “lord,” how comes it, then, that he is to be his son?’ The mass of the people listened to Jesus with delight.
38 Moreouer he saide vnto them in his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes which loue to goe in long robes, and loue salutations in the markets,
In the course of his teaching, Jesus said, ‘See that you are on your guard against the teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and to be greeted in the streets with respect,
39 And the chiefe seates in the Synagogues, and the first roumes at feastes,
and to have the best seats in the synagogues, and places of honour at dinner.
40 Which deuoure widowes houses, euen vnder a colour of long prayers. These shall receiue the greater damnation.
They are the men who rob widows of their homes, and make a pretence of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier.’
41 And as Iesus sate ouer against the treasurie, he beheld how the people cast money into the treasurie, and many rich men cast in much.
Then Jesus sat down opposite the chests for the Temple offerings, and watched how the people put money into them. Many rich people were putting in large sums;
42 And there came a certaine poore widowe, and she threw in two mites, which make a quadrin.
but one poor widow came and put in two small coins, worth very little.
43 Then he called vnto him his disciples, and said vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, that this poore widowe hath cast more in, then all they which haue cast into the treasurie.
Then, calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests;
44 For they all did cast in of their superfluitie: but she of her pouertie did cast in all that she had, euen all her liuing.
for everyone else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had – everything that she had to live on.’