Bilingual reading

After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.

When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.

When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,

for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”

Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.

Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.

For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”

Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.

Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.

Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.

When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.”

He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.

Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”

This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

The disciples of John told him about all these things.

John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”

When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts.

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”

When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.

But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.

“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?

They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’

For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.

Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.

Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”

“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”

Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.

You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.

You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

ولَمَّا أَتَمَّ جَميعَ كَلامِه بِمَسمَعٍ مِنَ الشَّعْب، دَخَلَ كَفَرناحوم

وكانَ لِقائِدِ مائةٍ خادِمٌ مَريضٌ قد أَشرَفَ على المَوت، وكانَ عَزيزًا علَيه

فلمَّا سَمِعَ بِيَسوع، أَوفَدَ إِلَيه بَعضَ أَعيانِ اليَهود يَسأَلُه أَن يَأتِيَ فيُنقِذَ خادِمَه

ولَمَّا وصَلوا إِلى يسوع، سأَلوه بِإِلحاحٍ قالوا: «إِنَّه يَستَحِقُّ أَن تَمنَحَه ذٰلك

لِأَنَّه يُحِبُّ أُمَّتَنا، وهوَ الَّذي بَنى لَنا المَجمَع»

فمَضى يسوعُ معَهم. وما إِن صارَ غَيرَ بَعيدٍ مِنَ البَيت، حتَّى أَرسَلَ إِلَيه قائدُ المائَةِ بَعضَ أَصدِقائِه يَقولُ له: «يا رَبّ، لا تُزعِجْ نَفسَكَ، فَإِنِّي لَستُ أَهلًا لِأَن تَدخُلَ تَحتَ سَقْفي

ولِذٰلِكَ لم أَرَني أَهلًا لِأَن أَجيءَ إِلَيك، ولٰكِن قُلْ كَلِمَةً يُشْفَ خادِمي

فأَنا مَرؤوسٌ ولي جُندٌ بِإِمرَتي، أَقولُ لهٰذا: إِذهَبْ! فَيَذهَب، وَلِلآخَر: تَعالَ! فيَأتي، ولِخادِمي: إِفعَلْ هٰذا! فَيَفعَلُه»

فلَمَّا سَمِعَ يسوعُ ذٰلك، أُعجِبَ بِه وٱلتَفَتَ إِلى الجَمعِ الَّذي يَتبَعُه فقال: «أَقولُ لَكم: لم أَجِدْ مِثلَ هٰذا الإِيمانِ حتَّى في إِسرائيل»

ورَجَعَ المُرسَلونَ إِلى البَيت، فوَجَدوا الخادِمَ قد رُدَّت إِليهِ العافِيَة

وذَهَبَ بَعدَئِذٍ إِلى مَدينَةٍ يُقالُ لَها نائين، وتَلاميذُه يَسيرونَ معَه، وجَمعٌ كَثير

فلَمَّا ٱقتَرَبَ مِن بابِ المَدينة، إِذا مَيْتٌ مَحْمول، وهو ٱبنٌ وَحيدٌ لِأُمِّه وهي أَرمَلَة. وكانَ يَصحَبُها جَمعٌ كثيرٌ مِنَ المَدينة

فلَمَّا رآها الرَّبّ أَخذَتهُ الشَّفَقَةُ علَيها، فقالَ لَها: «لا تَبكي!»

ثُمَّ دَنا مِنَ النَّعْش، فلَمَسَه فوقَفَ حامِلوه. فقال: «يا فَتى، أَقولُ لَكَ: قُمْ!»

فجَلَسَ المَيتُ وأَخَذَ يَتَكَلَّم، فسَلَّمَه إِلى أُمِّه

فٱستَولى الخَوفُ علَيهم جَميعًا فمَجَّدوا اللهَ قائلين: «قامَ فينا نَبِيٌّ عَظيم، وٱفتَقَدَ اللهُ شَعبَه!»

وٱنتَشَرَ هٰذا الكَلامُ في شَأنِه في اليَهودِيَّةِ كُلِّها وفي جَميعِ النَّواحي المُجاوِرَة

وأَخبَرَ يوحنَّا تَلاميذُه بِهٰذِه الأُمورِ كُلِّها، فَدَعا ٱثنَيْنِ مِن تَلاميذِه

وأَرسَلَهما إِلى الرَّبِّ يَسأَلُه: «أَأَنتَ الآتي أَم آخَرَ نَنتَظِر؟»

فلَمَّا وصَلَ الرَّجُلانِ إِلى يسوع قالا لَه: «إِنَّ يوحَنَّا المَعمَدانَ أَوفَدَنا إِلَيكَ يَسأَل: أَأَنت الآتي أَم آخَرَ نَنتَظِر؟»

في تِلكَ السَّاعَة شَفى أُناسًا كَثيرينَ مِنَ الأَمراضِ والعِلَلِ والأَرواحِ الخَبيثَة، ووَهَبَ البَصَرَ لِكَثيرٍ مِنَ العُمْيان

ثُمَّ أَجابَهما: «إِذهَبا فأَخبِرا يوحَنَّا بِما سَمِعتُما ورَأَيتُما: العُمْيانُ يُبصِرونَ، العُرْجُ يَمشُونَ مَشْيًا سَوِيًّا، البُرصُ يَبرَأُونَ والصُّمُّ يَسمَعون، المَوتى يَقومون، الفُقَراءُ يُبَشَّرون

وطوبى لِمَن لا أَكونُ لَه حَجَرَ عَثرَة»

ولمَّا ٱنصَرَفَ رَسولا يوحنَّا، أَخذَ يَقولُ لِلجُموعِ في شَأنِ يوحَنَّا: «ماذا خَرَجتُم إِلى البَرِّيَّةِ تَنظُرون؟ أَقَصَبَةً تَهُزُّها الرِّيح؟

بل ماذا خَرَجتُم تَرَون؟ أَرَجُلًا يَلبَسُ الثِّيابَ النَّاعِمَة؟ ها إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَلبَسونَ الثِّيابَ الفاخِرَة ويَعيشونَ عيشَةَ التَّرَفِ يُقيمونَ في قُصورِ المُلوك

بل ماذا خَرجتُم تَرَون؟ أَنَبِيًّا؟ أَقولُ لَكم: نَعَم، بَل أَفضَلُ مِن نَبِيّ

فهٰذا الَّذي كُتِبَ في شَأنِه: «هاءَنذا أُرسِلُ رَسولي قُدَّامَكَ لِيُعِدَّ الطَّريقَ أَمامَكَ»

أَقولُ لَكم: لَيسَ في أَولادِ النِّساءِ أَكبَرُ مِن يوحنَّا، وَلٰكِنَّ الأَصغَرَ في مَلَكوتِ اللهِ أَكبَرُ مِنه

فَجَميعُ الشَّعبِ الَّذي سَمِعَه حَتَّى الجُباةُ أَنْفُسُهم بَرُّوا الله، فاعتَمَدوا عن يَدِ يوحنَّا

وأَمَّا الفِرِّيسِيُّون وعُلَماءُ الشَّريعَة فلَم يَعتَمِدوا عن يَدِه فأَعرَضوا عن تَدْبيرِ اللهِ في أَمرِهم

«فَبِمَن أُشَبِّهُ أَهلَ هٰذا الجِيل؟ ومَن يُشبِهون؟

يُشبِهونَ أَولادًا قاعِدينَ في السَّاحَةِ يَصيحُ بَعضُهم بِبَعضٍ فيَقولون: «زَمَّرْنا لَكُم فلَم تَرْقُصوا نَدَبْنا فلَم تَبْكوا»

جاءَ يوحنَّا المَعمَدان لا يأكُلُ خُبزًا ولا يَشرَبُ خَمرًا، فقُلتُمْ: لقَد جُنَّ

وجاءَ ٱبنُ الإِنسانِ يأكُلُ ويَشرَب، فقُلتُم: هُوَذا رَجُلٌ أَكولٌ شِرِّيبٌ لِلْخَمْرِ صَديقٌ لِلجُباةِ والخاطِئين

ولٰكِنَّ الحِكمَةَ قد بَرَّها جَميعُ بَنيها»

ودَعاهُ أَحَدُ الفِرِّيسيِّينَ إِلى الطَّعامِ عِندَه، فدَخَلَ بَيتَ الفِرِّيسيّ وجَلَسَ إِلى المائِدَة

وإِذا بِٱمرأَةٍ خاطِئَةٍ كانت في المَدينة، عَلِمَت أَنَّه على المائِدَةِ في بَيتِ الفِرِّيسيّ، فجاءَت ومعَها قارورةُ طِيب

ووَقَفَت مِن خَلْفُ عِندَ رِجْلَيه وهيَ تَبْكي، وجَعَلَت تَبُلُّ قَدَمَيهِ بِالدُّموع، وتَمسَحُهُما بِشَعْرِ رَأسِها، وتُقَبِّلُ قَدَمَيه وتَدهُنُهما بِالطِّيب

فلَمَّا رأَى الفِرِّيسيُّ الَّذي دَعاهُ هٰذا الأَمر، قالَ في نَفْسِه: «لو كانَ هٰذا الرَّجُلُ نَبِيًّا، لَعَلِمَ مَن هِيَ المَرأَةُ الَّتي تَلمِسُه وما حالُها: إِنَّها خاطِئَة»

فأَجابَه يسوع: «يا سِمعان، عندي ما أَقولُه لَكَ». فقالَ: «قُلْ، يا مُعَلِّم»

قال: «كانَ لِمُدايِنٍ مَدينان، على أَحَدِهما خَمسُمائةِ دينارٍ وعلى الآخَرِ خَمسون

ولَم يَكُنْ بِإِمكانِهِما أَن يُوفِيا دَينَهُما فأَعفاهما جَميعًا. فأَيُّهما يَكونُ أَكثَرَ حُبًّا لَه؟»

فأَجابَه سِمعان: «أَظُنُّه ذاك الَّذي أَعفاهُ مِنَ الأَكثَر». فقالَ لَه: «بِالصَّوابِ حَكَمتَ»

ثُمَّ ٱلتَفَتَ إِلى المَرأَةِ وقالَ لِسِمعان: «أَتَرى هٰذهِ المَرأَة؟ إِنِّي دَخَلتُ بَيتَكَ فما سَكَبتَ على قَدَمَيَّ ماءً. وأَمَّا هِيَ فَبِالدُّموعِ بَلَّت قَدَمَيَّ وبِشَعرِها مَسَحَتهُما

أَنتَ ما قَبَّلتَني قُبلَةً، وأَمَّا هي فلَم تَكُفَّ مُذ دَخَلَت عَن تَقبيلِ قَدَمَيَّ

أَنتَ ما دَهَنتَ رأسي بِزَيتٍ مُعَطَّر، أَمَّا هِيَ فَبِالطِّيبِ دَهَنَتْ قَدَمَيَّ

فإِذا قُلتُ لَكَ إِنَّ خَطاياها الكَثيرَةَ غُفِرَت لَها، فلِأَنَّها أَظهَرَت حُبًّا كثيرًا. وأَمَّا الَّذي يُغفَرُ له القَليل، فإِنَّه يُظهِرُ حُبًّا قَليلًا»

ثُمَّ قالَ لَها: «غُفِرَت لَكِ خَطاياكِ»

فأَخَذَ جُلَساؤُه على الطَّعامِ يَقولونَ في أَنفُسِهم: «مَن هٰذا حَتَّى يَغفِرَ الخَطايا؟»

فقالَ لِلمَرأَة: «إِيمانُكِ خَلَّصَكِ فٱذهَبي بِسَلام»