Diatessaron (Gospel Harmony) 42–44

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section XLII. [1] But when ye see Jerusalem with the army compassing it about, then know that [2] its desolation is come near. Those then that are in Judæa at that time shall flee to the mountain; and those that are within her shall flee; and those that are in the [3] villages shall not enter her. For these days are the days of vengeance, that all that [4] is written may be fulfilled. And when ye see the unclean sign of desolation, spoken of in Daniel the prophet, standing in the pure place, he that readeth shall understand, [5, 6] and then he that is in Judæa shall flee in to the mountain: and let him that is on the [7] roof not go down, nor enter in to take anything from his house: and let him that is in [8] the field not turn behind him to take his garment. Woe to them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! there shall be great [9] distress in the land, and wrath against this nation. And they shall fall on the edge of the sword, and shall be taken captive to every land: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations, until the times of the nations be ended. [10] Then if any man say unto you, The Messiah is here; or, Lo, he is there; believe [11] him not: there shall rise then false Messiahs and prophets of lying, and shall do signs and wonders, in order that they may lead astray even the elect also, if they [12] be able. But as for you, beware: for I have acquainted you with everything [13] beforehand. If then they say unto you, Lo, he is in the desert; go not out, lest ye [14] be taken: and if they say unto you, Lo, he is in the chamber; believe not. And as the lightning appeareth from the east, and is seen unto the west; so shall be the [15] coming of the Son of man. But first he must suffer much and be rejected by this [16] generation. Pray therefore that your flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath: [17] there shall be then great tribulation, the like of which there hath not been from the [18] beginning of the world till now, nor shall be. And except the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would have lived: but because of the elect, whom he elected, [19] he shortened those days. And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and upon the earth affliction of the nations, and rubbing of hands for the confusion [20] of the noise of the sea, and an earthquake: the souls of men shall [21] go forth from fear of that which is to come upon the earth. And in those days, straightway after the distress of those days, the sun shall become dark, and the moon shall not shew its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers [22] of heaven shall be convulsed: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and at that time all the tribes of the earth shall wail, and look unto the Son [23] of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory. And he shall send his angels with the great trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four [24] winds, from one end of heaven to the other. But when these things begin to be, be of good cheer, and lift up your heads; for your salvation is come near. [25] Learn the example of the fig tree: when it letteth down its branches, and putteth [26] forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is come; so ye also, when ye see these things begun to be, know ye that the kingdom of God hath arrived at the [27] door. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these [28] things shall be. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my sayings shall not pass away. [29] Take heed to yourselves, that your hearts become not heavy with inordinate desire, and drunkenness, and the care of the world at any time, and that day come [30] upon you suddenly: for it is as a shock that shocks all the inhabitants that are on the [31] face of the whole earth. Watch at all times, and pray, that ye may be worthy to escape from all the things that are to be, and that ye may stand before the Son of [32] man. Of that day and of that hour hath no man learned, not even the angels [33] of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. See ye, and watch and pray: for ye know [34] not when that time will be. It is as a man, who journeyed, and left his house, and gave his authority to his servants, and appointed every man to his work, and [35] charged the porter to be wakeful. Be wakeful then: since ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or when the [36] cock croweth, or in the morning; lest he come unexpectedly, and find you sleeping. [37] The thing that I say unto you, unto all of you do I say it, Be ye watchful. [38] For as it was in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. [39] As they were before the flood eating and drinking, and taking wives, and giving [40] wives to men, until the day in which Noah entered into the ark, and they perceived not till the flood came, and took them all; so shall the coming of the Son of man [41] be. And as it was in the days of Lot; they were eating and drinking, and selling [42] and buying, and planting and building, on the day in which Lot went out from Sodom, and the Lord rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them [43, 44] all: so shall it be in the day in which the Son of man is revealed. And in that day, whosoever is on the roof, and his garments in the house, let him not go down to [45] take them: and he that is in the field shall not turn behind him. Remember Lot’s [46] wife. Whosoever shall desire to save his life shall destroy it: but whosoever shall [47] destroy his life shall save it. Verily I say unto you, In that night there shall be two on [48] one bed; one shall be taken, and another left. And two women shall be grinding [49] at one mill; one shall be taken, and another left. And two shall be in the [50] field; one shall be taken, and another left. They answered and said unto him, To what place, our Lord? He said unto them, Where the body is, there will the eagles [51, 52] gather. Be attentive now: for ye know not at what hour your Lord cometh. Know this: if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have been attentive, and would not make it possible that his house should be [53] broken through. Therefore be ye also ready: for in the hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section XLIII. [1] Simon Cephas said unto him, Our Lord, is it to us that thou hast spoken this [2] parable, or also to every man? Jesus said unto him, Who, thinkest thou, is the servant, the master of the house, trusted with control, whom his lord set over his [3] household, to give them their food in its season? Blessed is that servant, whom his [4] lord shall come and find having done so. Verily I say unto you, He will set him [5] over all that he hath. But if that evil servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his [6] coming; and shall begin to beat his servants and the maidservants of his lord, and [7] shall begin to eat and to drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come [8] in the day that he thinketh not, and in the hour that he knoweth not, and shall judge him, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites, and with those that are not faithful: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [9] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like unto ten virgins, those that took their [10] lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride. Five of them were [11] wise, and five foolish. And those foolish ones took their lamps, and took not with [12, 13] them oil: but those wise ones took oil in vessels along with their lamps. When then [14] the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But in the middle of the night there occurred a cry, Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Go forth therefore to [15, 16] meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their lamps. The foolish [17] said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But those wise answered and said, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you: but go ye to [18] the sellers, and buy for yourselves. And when they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and [19] the door was shut. And at last those other virgins also came and said, Our Lord, [20] our Lord, open unto us. He answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, [21] I know you not. Watch then, for ye know not that day nor that hour. [22] It is as a man, who went on a journey, and called his servants, and delivered unto [23] them his possessions. And unto one he gave five talents, and another two, and another [24] one; every one according to his strength; and went on his journey forthwith. He then that received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained [26] other five. And so also he of the two gained other two. But he that received [27] the one went and digged in the earth, and hid the money of his lord. And after a long time the lord of those servants came, and took from them the account. [28] And he that received five talents came near and brought other five, and said, My lord, thou gavest me five talents: lo, I have gained other five in addition to them. [29] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: over a little hast [30] thou been faithful, over much will I set thee: enter into the joy of thy lord. And he that had the two came near and said, My lord, thou gavest me two talents: lo, [31] other two have I gained in addition to them. His lord said unto him, Good, thou faithful servant: over a little hast thou been faithful, over much will I set thee: enter [32] into the joy of thy lord. And he also that received the one talent came forward and said, My lord, I knew thee that thou art a severe man, who reapest where thou [33] sowest not, and gatherest where thou didst not scatter: and so I was afraid, and [34] went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast what is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest me [35] that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; it was incumbent on thee to put my money to the bank, and then I should come and seek it with its [36] gains. Take now from him the talent, and give it to him that hath ten talents. [37] Whosoever hath shall be given, and he shall have more: but he that hath not, even [38] what he hath shall be taken from him. And the unprofitable servant, put him forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. [39, 40] Your loins shall be girded, and your lamps lit; and ye shall be like the people that are looking for their lord, when he shall return from the feast; so that, when [41] he cometh and knocketh, they may at once open unto him. Blessed are those servants, whom their lord shall come and find attentive: verily I say unto you, that he will gird his waist, and make them sit down, and pass through them and serve [42] them. And if he come in the second watch, or the third, and find thus, blessed are those servants. [43] But when the Son of man cometh in his glory, and all his pure angels with him, [44] then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and he will gather before him all the nations, and separate them the one from the other, like the shepherd who separateth [45] the sheep from the goats; and will set the sheep on his right, and the goats on his [46] left. Then shall the King say to those that are at his right, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world: [47] I hungered, and ye gave me to eat; and I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; and I [48] was a stranger, and ye took me in; and I was naked, and ye clothed me; and I [49] was sick, and ye visited me; and I was in prison, and ye cared for me. Then shall those righteous say unto him, Our Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? [50] or thirsty, and gave thee to drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took [51] thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or imprisoned, and [52] cared for thee? The King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, What [53] ye did to one of these my brethren, the little ones, ye did unto me. Then shall he say unto those that are on his left also, Depart from me, ye cursed, [54] into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his hosts: I hungered, and ye fed me [55] not; and I thirsted, and ye did not give me to drink; and I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; and I was naked, and ye clothed me not; and I was sick, and imprisoned, [56] and ye visited me not. Then shall those also answer and say, Our Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or naked, or a stranger, or sick, or imprisoned, [57] and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, When ye did it not unto one of these little ones, ye did it not [58] unto me also. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section XLIV. [1, 2] And when Jesus finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days will be the passover, and the Son of man is delivered up to be [3] crucified. Then gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders [4] of the people, unto the court of the chief priest, who was called Caiaphas; and they took counsel together concerning Jesus, that they might seize him by subtilty, and [5] kill him. But they said, Not during the feast, lest there take place a disturbance among the people; for they feared the people. [6] And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, who was of the number [7] of the twelve. And he went away, and communed with the chief priests, and the scribes, and those that held command in the temple, and said unto them, What [8] would ye pay me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they, when they heard it, were pleased, and made ready for him thirty pieces of money. [9] And he promised them, and from that time he sought an opportunity that he might deliver unto them Jesus without the multitude. [10] And on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, and said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready for thee that thou mayest eat the passover? [11] And before the feast of the passover, Jesus knew that the hour was arrived for his departure from this world unto his Father; and he loved his own in this world, [12] and to the last he loved them. And at the time of the feast, Satan put into the [13] heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to deliver him up. And Jesus, because he knew that the Father had delivered into his hands everything, and that he came [14] forth from the Father, and goeth unto God, rose from supper, and laid aside his [15] garments; and took a towel, and girded his waist, and poured water into a bason, and began to wash the feet of his disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith [16] his waist was girded. And when he came to Simon Cephas, Simon said unto [17] him, Dost thou, my Lord, wash for me my feet? Jesus answered and said unto [18] him, What I do, now thou knowest not; but afterwards thou shalt learn. Simon said unto him, Thou shalt never wash for me my feet. Jesus said unto him, If I [19] wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Cephas said unto him, Then, my [20] Lord, wash not for me my feet alone, but my hands also and my head. Jesus said unto him, He that batheth needeth not to wash save his feet, whereas his whole [21] body is clean: and ye also are clean, but not all of you. For Jesus knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. [22] So when he had washed their feet, he took his garments, and sat down, and [23] said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me, Master, [24] and, Lord: and ye say well; so I am. If then I, now, who am your Lord and Master, have washed for you your feet, how needful is it that ye should wash one another’s feet! [25] This have I given you as an example, that as I have done to you so ye should do [26] also. Verily, verily, I say unto you, No servant is greater than his lord; nor an [27] apostle greater than he that sent him. If ye know that, ye are happy if ye do it. [28] My saying this is not for all of you: for I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture might be fulfilled, He that eateth with me bread lifted against me his [29] heel. Henceforth I say unto you before it come to pass, that, when it cometh to [30] pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and whosoever receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. [31] Who is the great one, he that sitteth, or he that serveth? is it not he that sitteth? [32] I am among you as he that serveth. But ye are they that have continued with me [33] in my temptations; I promise you, as my Father promised me, the kingdom, that ye may eat and drink at the table of my kingdom. [34] And the first day came, the feast of unleavened bread, on which the Jews were [35] wont to sacrifice the passover. And Jesus sent two of his disciples, Cephas and John, and said unto them, Go and make ready for us the passover, that we may eat. [36, 37] And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee? He said unto them, Go, enter the city; and at the time of your entering, there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him, and the place where he entereth, say [38] to such an one, the master of the house, Our Master saith, My time is come, and at thy house I keep the passover. Where then is the lodging-place where [39] I shall eat with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room [40] spread and made ready: there then make ready for us. And his two disciples went out, and came to the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover as he had said unto them. [41] And when the evening was come, and the time arrived, Jesus came and reclined, [42] and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have [43] desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: I say unto you, that henceforth I shall not eat it, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. [44] Jesus said that, and was agitated in his spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, [45] verily, I say unto you, One of you, he that eateth with me, shall betray me. And they were very sorrowful; and they began to say unto him, one after another of [46] them, Can it be I, Lord? He answered and said unto them, One of the twelve, [47] he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, will betray me. And lo, the hand of [48] him that betrayeth me is on the table. And the Son of man goeth, as it is written of him: woe then to that man by whose hand the Son of man is betrayed! for it [49] would have been better for that man had he not been born. And the disciples [50] looked one on another, for they knew not to whom he referred; and they began to search among themselves, who that might be who was to do this.