The first New Testament printed in English

Chapter 54

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In the midst of the feast, Iesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the jewes marvelled, saying: How knoweth he the scriptures? seeing that he never learned. Iesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine: but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God: or whether I spake of myself. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own praise. But he that seeketh his praise that sent him, he is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Did not Moses give you a law? And yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said: Thou hast the devil. Who goeth about to kill thee? Iesus answered, and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision, not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers. And yet ye on the saboth day circumcise a man. If a man on the saboth day receive circumcision without breaking of the law of Moses: Disdain ye at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the saboth day? Judge not after the utter appearance: but judge righteous judgement.

Then said some of them of Ierusalem: Is not this he whom they go about to kill? behold he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do not our rulers know indeed, that this is very Christ? But we know this man whence he is, but when Christ cometh, no man shall know whence he is.

Then cried Iesus in the temple as he taught saying: And me ye know, and whence I am ye know: and I am not come of myself. But he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. I know him: For I am of him, and he hath sent me. Then sought the jews to take him, but no man laid hands on him, because his time was not yet come. Many of the people believed on him, and said: When Christ cometh: Will he do more miracles than this man hath done?

The pharisees heard that the people murmured such things about him: and the pharisees and scribes sent ministers forth to take him. Then said Iesus unto them: Yet am I a little while with you, and then go I unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: And where I am, thither can ye not come. Then said the jewes between themselves: Whither will he go? that we shall not find him. Will he go among the gentiles, which are scattered all abroad, and teach the gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said: ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: And where I am, thither can ye not come?

In the last day, that great day of the feast: Iesus stood and cried saying: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Whosoever believeth on me, as sayeth the scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. This spake he of the spirit, which they that believed on him should receive. For the holy ghost was not yet there, because that Iesus was not yet glorified. Many of the people, when they heard this saying said: This is, no doubt, a prophet. Other said: this is Christ. Some said: shall Christ come out of Galilee? Saith not the scripture that Christ shall come of the seed of David: and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was? So was there dissension among the people for his sake. And some of them would have taken him: but no man laid hands on him.

Then came the ministers to the high priests, and pharisees. And they said unto them: why have ye not brought him? The servants answered: never man spake as this man speaketh. Then answered them the pharisees: are ye also deceived? Doth any of the rulers, or of the pharisees believe on him? But the common people which know not the law are a cursed. Nicodemus said unto them (He that came to Iesus by night which was one of them.) Doth our law judge any man, before it be heard, and known, what he hath done? They answered, and said unto him: Art thou also of Galile? Search and look, for out of Galile ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house.

The .viij. Chapter.

Iesus went unto mount olivet, and early in the morning came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him, And he sat down, and taught them. The scribes and pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in advoutry, and set her in the midst and said unto him: Master this woman was taken in advoutry, even as the deed was a doing. Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned: What sayest thou therefore? And this they said to tempt him: that they might have, whereof to accuse him. Iesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up, And said unto them: let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. As soon as they heard that, they went out one by one the eldest first. And Iesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Iesus had lifted up himself again, and saw no man, but the woman, He said unto her: Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said: Sir no man. Iesus said: Neither do I condemn thee. Go hence and sin no more.

Then spake Iesus again unto them saying: I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness: but shall have the light of life. The pharisees said unto him: thou bearest record of thyself, thy record is not true. Iesus answered and said unto them: And if I bear record of myself, my record is true for I know whence I come, and whither I go. Ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh, I judge no man, and if I judge, then is my judgement true. For I am not alone: but I and my father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and my father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Then said they unto him: where is thy father? Iesus answered: ye neither know me, nor yet my father. If ye had known me, ye should have known my father also. These words spake Iesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. And no man laid hands on him, For his time was not yet come. Then said Iesus again unto them: I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins. Whither I go thither can ye not come. Then spake the jewes: will he kill himself, because he saith: whither I go, thither can ye not come? And he said unto them: ye are from beneath, I am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins. For except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, who art thou? And Iesus said unto them: Even the very same thing that I say unto you. I have many things to say, and to judge of you. But he that sent me is true. And I speak in the world, those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake of his father.

Then said Iesus unto them: When ye have lift up on high the son of man then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, But as my father hath taught me, even so I speak. And he that sent me is with me. My father hath not left me alone, For I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Then said Iesus to those jewes which believed on him: If ye continue in my saying, then are ye my very disciples: and ye shall know the truth: And the truth shall make you free. They answered him: We be Abraham's seed, and were never bond to any man: why sayest thou then, ye shall be made free?

Iesus answered them: verily verily I say unto you, that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: But the son abideth ever. If the son therefore shall make you free, then are ye free in deed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed: but ye seek means to kill me because my sayings have no place in you. I speak that I have seen with my father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

They answered and said unto him: Abraham is our father. Iesus said unto them. If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the deeds of Abraham. But now ye go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of my father. This did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they unto him: we were not born of fornication. We have one father that is God. Iesus said unto them: if God were your father, then would ye have loved me. For I proceeded forth and come from God. Neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot abide the hearing of my words.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father, ye will follow: He was a murderer from the beginning, And abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, then speaketh he of his own. For he is a liar, and the father thereof. And because I tell you the truth, therefore believe ye not me.

Which of you can rebuke me of sin? If I say the truth, why do not ye believe me? He that is of God, heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the jewes and said unto him: Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast the devil? Iesus answered: I have not the devil: but I honour my father, and ye have dishonored me. I seek not mine own praise: There is one that seeketh it and judgeth.

Verily verily I say unto you, if a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death. Then said the jewes to him: Now know we that thou hast the devil. Abraham is dead, and also the prophets, and yet thou sayest: if a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham? which is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom makest thou thyself?

Iesus answered: If I praise myself, mine praise is nothing worth. It is my father that praiseth me, which ye say is your God. And yet have ye not known him: but I know him. And if I should say, I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you, But I know him, and keep his saying.

Your father Abraham was glad to see my day, and he saw it and rejoiced. Then said the jewes unto him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Iesus said unto them: Verily verily I say unto you: yer Abraham was I am. Then took they up stones, to cast at him. But Iesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

The .ix. Chapter.

And as Iesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth, And his disciples asked him saying. Master, who did sin: this man, or his father and mother, that he was born blind? Iesus answered: Neither this man hath sinned, nor yet his father and mother: but that the works of God should be shewed on him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

As soon as he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and rubbed the clay on the eyes of the blind, and said unto him: Go wash thee in the pool of Siloe (which by interpretation, signifieth sent.) He went his way and washed, and came again seeing. The neighbours, and they that had seen him before how that he was a beggar said: Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said: this is he. Other said: he is like him. He himself said: I am even he. They said unto him: How are thine eyes opened then? He answered and said: The man that is called Iesus, made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me: Go to the pool Siloe, and wash. I went and washed and received my sight. They said unto him: where is he? He said: I cannot tell.

Then brought they to the pharisees, him that a little before was blind. (It was the saboth day when Iesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.) Then again the pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them: He put clay upon mine eyes, And I washed, and I see. Then said some of the pharisees: this man is not of God, because he keepeth not the saboth day. Other said: how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was strife among them. Then spake they unto the blind again: What sayest thou of him, because he hath opened thine eyes? And he said: He is a prophet.

The jewes did not believe of the fellow, how that he was blind, and received his sight: until they had called the father and mother of him that had received his sight. And they asked them saying: Is this your son, whom ye say was born blind? How doth he now see then? His father and mother answered them and said: we wot well that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, that can we not tell or who hath opened his eyes can we not tell. He is old enough, ask him, let him answer for himself, of things that pertain to himself. Such words spake his father, and mother, because they feared the jewes, for the jewes had conspired already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be excommunicate out of the Synagogue. Therefore said his father and mother: he is old enough, ask him.

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him: Give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said: Whether he be a sinner or no, I cannot tell: One thing I am sure of, that I was blind, and now I see. Then said they to him again: What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I told you yerwhile, And ye did not hear. Wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? Then rated they him, and said: Thou art his disciple. We are Moses' disciples. We are sure that God spake with Moses. This fellow we know not from whence he is.

The man answered, and said unto them: this is a marvelous thing that ye wot nere whence he is, and yet hath he opened mine eyes. We know well enough that God heareth no sinners: But if any man be a worshipper of God: and do what his will is, him heareth he. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could have done no thing. They answered and said unto him: thou art altogether born in sin: and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Iesus heard that they had excommunicated him: and as soon as he had found him he said unto him: dost thou believe on the son of God? He answered and said: And who is it lord, that I might believe on him? And Iesus said unto him: Thou hast seen him, and he it is that talketh with thee. And he said: lord I believe: And worshipped him. Iesus said: I am come unto judgement, into this world: that they which see not, might see, and they which see might be made blind. And some of the pharisees which were with him, heard these words and said unto him: Are we then blind? Iesus said unto them, if ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say we see, therefore your sin remaineth.

The .x. Chapter.

Verily verily I say unto you: Whosoever entereth not in by the door, into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way: he is a thief and a robber. He that goeth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To this man the porter openeth the door, and the sheep hear his voice, And he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out, and when he hath sent forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: For they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will fly from him. For they know not the voice of strangers. This manner of saying spake Iesus unto them. And they understood not, what things they were, which he spake unto them.

Then said Iesus unto them again: Verily verily I say unto you: that I am the door of the sheep. All even as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me, if any man enter in, he shall be safe, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal and kill, and destroy. I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.

I am a good shepherd, a good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. An hired servant which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flyeth, and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hired servant flyeth because he is an hired servant, and careth not for the sheep. I am that good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As my father knoweth me: even so know I my father. And I give my life for my sheep, and other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also must I bring, that they shall hear my voice. And there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Therefore doth my father love me, because I put my life from me, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me: but I put it away of myself. I have power to put it from me, and power I have to take it again. This commandment have I received of my father. Again there was dissension among the jewes for these sayings, and many of them said: He hath the devil, and is mad: why hear ye him? other said, these are not the words of him that hath the devil: Can the devil open the eyes of the blind?

It was at Ierusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was the winter: And Iesus walked in Solomon's hall. Then came the jewes round about him, and said unto him: How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be Christ, tell us plainly. Iesus answered them: I told you and ye believe not: The works that I do in my father's name, bear witness of me: but ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. As I said unto you: my sheep, hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me, is greater than all men, and no man is able to take them out of my father's hand. And I and my father are one.

Then the jewes again took up stones, to stone him withall. Iesus answered them: many good works have I shewed you from my father: for which of them will ye stone me? The jewes answered him saying: For thy good works' sake we stone thee not: but for thy blasphemy, and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God. Iesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I have said, ye are gods? If he called them gods unto whom the word of God was spoken (and the scripture cannot be broken) say ye then to him, whom the father hath sanctified, and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said I am the son of God? If I do not the works of my father, believe me not. But though ye believe not me, yet believe the works, that ye may know and believe that the father is in me, and I in him.

Again they went about to take him, but he escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond Iordan, into the place where Ihon before had baptised, and there abode. And many resorted unto him, and said: Ihon did no miracle: But all things that Ihon spake of this man are true.. And there many believed on him there.

The .xj. Chapter.

A certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethania the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed Iesus with ointment, and wept his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick, and his sister sent unto him saying: lord behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Iesus that heard he said: this infirmity is not unto death: But for the laud of God, that the son of God might be praised by the reason of it. Iesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. After he heard that he was sick, then abode he two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that said he to his disciples: let us go into jewry again. His disciples said unto him: Master, the jewes lately sought means to stone thee, and wilt thou go thither again? Iesus answered: are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. If a man walk in the night he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. This said he. And after that he said unto them: our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go to wake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples: lord if he sleep, then shall he do well enough. Iesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of the natural sleep. Then said Iesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, because ye may believe. Nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas (which is called Didymus,) unto the disciples: let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then went Iesus, and found, that he had lain in his grave four days already. Bethanie was nigh unto Ierusalem, about xv. furlongs off, And many of the jewes came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them over their brother. Martha as soon as she heard that Iesus was coming, went and met him. Mary sat still at home.

Then said Martha unto Iesus: lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead: but nevertheless, I know that whatsoever thou askest of God, God will give it thee. Iesus said unto her: Thy brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him: I know well, he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Iesus said unto her: I am the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believeth on me, Yea though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth, and believeth on me, shall never die. Believest thou this? She said unto him: yea lord: I believe that thou art Christ the son of God, which shall come into the world. And as soon as she had so said she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly saying: The master is come and calleth for thee. She as soon as she heard that, arose quickly, and came unto him. Iesus was not yet come into the town: but was in the place where Martha met him. The jewes then which were with her in the house, and comforted her (when they saw Mary that she rose up hastily, and went out) followed her saying: She goeth unto the grave, to weep there. Then when Mary was come, where Iesus was and saw him she fell down at his feet, saying unto him: lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead. When Iesus saw her weep, and the jewes also weep, which came with her. He groaned in the spirit, and vexed himself and said: Where have ye laid him? They said unto him: lord come and see. And Iesus wept. Then said the jewes: Behold how he loved him. Some of them said: Could not he which opened the eyes of the blind, have made also, that this man should not have died? Iesus again groaned in himself came to the grave, it was a cave, and a stone laid on it.

Iesus said: Take ye away the stone. Martha (the sister of him that was dead) said unto him: lord by this time he stinketh. For he hath been dead four days. Iesus said unto her: Said I not unto thee, that if thou didst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. Iesus lift up his eyes and said: Father I give thee thanks because that thou hast heard me, I knew well that thou hearest me always: but because of the people that stand by I said it, that they might believe, that thou hast sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth, and he that was dead, came forth bound hand and foot, with bonds after the manner as they were wonte to bind their dead with all. And his face was bound with a napkin. Iesus said unto them: loose him, and let him go. Then many of the jewes which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Iesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the pharisees, and told them what Iesus had done.