the Fourth Week of Advent
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Etheridge Translation
Matthew 26
1 AND when Jeshu had finished all these discourses, he said to his disciples,2 You know not that after two days is the Petzcha [fn] and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified. 3 Then assembled the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, in the hall of the chief of the priests, who was called Kaiapha.4 And they held counsel concerning Jeshu, how that by artifice they might apprehend and kill him.5 And they said, Let it not be on the festival, lest there be a tumult among the people.
6 And when Jeshu was at Bethania, in the house of Shemun the leper,7 there drew near to him a woman who carried a vase of aromatic balsam, great of price, and she poured it upon the head of Jeshu as he reclined.8 But his disciples saw and were displeased, and said, For what is this destruction ?9 For this could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.10 But Jeshu knew, and said to them, Why grieve you the woman ? a good work hath she wrought upon me.11 For in all time the poor you have with you, but me you have not in all time with you.12 For this (woman) who hath poured this balsam upon my body, as unto my funeral hath done [fn] . 13 And Amen I say unto you, Wheresoever this my Gospel shall be proclaimed, in all the world, this also which she hath done shall be told for her memorial.
14 Then went one from the twelve, named Jihuda S'carjuta, unto the chief priests,15 and said to then, What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you ? But they settled to him thirty of silver.16 16 And from that time [fn] he sought to him opportunity to betray him.
17 BUT in the first day of the (Phatiree) unleavened-bread days, the disciples came to Jeshu, and said to him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover ?18 But he said to them, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, Our master saith, My time hath come! with thee will I perform the passover with my disciples.19 And the disciples did as Jeshu had commanded, and prepared the passover.20 And when it was evening, he reclined with his twelve disciples.21 And while they were eating, he said, Amen I say unto you, that one from you betrayeth me.22 And they were very sad, and began to say to him, one by one of them, My Lord, is it I ?23 But he answered and said, One who dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me.24 And the Son of man goeth as it is written concerning him; but woe to him, to that man by whom [fn] the Son of man is betrayed! Better had it been for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Jihuda the traitor answered and said, Am not I (he), Rabi ? Jeshu replieth to him, Thou hast said!
26 But while they were eating, Jeshu took the bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take, eat, this (is) my body.27 And he took the cup, and offered thanks, and gave to them, and said, Take, drink of this all of you:28 this (is) my blood of the new covenant, which for multitudes is shed for the remission of sins.29 But I say to you, that I will not drink from henceforth of this product of the vines, until the day in which I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of Aloha.30 And they sang praises, and went forth unto the mount of Olives.
31 THEN said Jeshu unto them, You all shall be offended in me this night; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and scattered shall be the sheep of his flock.32 But after that I am risen I am before you in Galila.33 Kipha answered and said to him, Though every man should be offended in thee, I never will be offended in thee.34 Jeshu saith to him, Amen I say to thee, that in this night, before the cock shall crow, three times thou wilt deny me.35 Kipha saith to him, If I am to die with thee, I will not deny thee. The same also all the disciples said.
36 Then cometh Jeshu with them unto the place which is called Gedsiman; and he said to his disciples, Sit here while I go and pray.37 And he took Kipha and the two sons of Zabdai; and he began to be sorrowful, and to be vehemently agonized.38 And he said to them, My soul is afflicted unto death; wait for me here, and watch with me.39 And he removed a little, and fell upon his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as thou.40 Then he came to his disciples, and found them sleeping; and he said to Kipha, How, could you not for one hour watch with me ?41 Be watchful and pray, that you enter not into temptation. The spirit is ready, but the body is infirm.42 Again he went the second time, and prayed, and said, My Father, if it be not possible for this cup to pass, unless I drink it, be done thy will !43 And he came again, and found them asleep; for their eyes had become heavy.44 And he left them, and went again, and prayed the third time, and said the same word.45 Then he came to the disciples, and said to them, Sleep on now, and be at rest; lo, the hour cometh, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.46 Arise, let us go: behold, he cometh who betrayeth me.
47 And while he was speaking, behold, Jihuda the traitor, one from the twelve, came, and a great multitude with him, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.48 And Jihuda the traitor had given to them a sign, and said, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.49 And immediately he approached Jeshu, and said, Peace, my master ! and kissed him.50 But he, Jeshu, said to him, (Is it) for that thou hast come, my companion ? Then they came on, and laid their hands upon Jeshu, and took him.51 And, behold, one from those who were with Jeshu stretched forth his hand, and unsheathed a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and took off his ear.52 Then said Jeshu to him, Return thy sword to his place; for every one of them who take swords, by swords shall die.53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot request from my Father, and he shall appoint to me now more than twelve legions of angels ?54 (But) how, then, would the scripture be accomplished, that thus it ought to be ?55 In that hour Jeshu said to the multitudes, As against a robber are you come out, with swords, and with clubs, to seize me ? Every day with you in the temple I sat and taught, and you did not apprehend me.56 But this was done that what is written in the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all deserted him, and fled.
57 And they who apprehended Jeshu led him unto Kaiapha, chief of the priests, where the jurists and elders were assembled.58 But Shemun Kipha went after him from afar unto the court of the chief of the priests, and entered and sat within with the attendants, that he might see the end.59 But the chief priests, and the elders, and the whole assembly, sought against Jeshu witnesses, that they might put him to death;60 but they found not (any). And many witnesses of falsehood came. But, last, two came near,61 declaring, This said, I can destroy the temple of Aloha, and in three days rebuild it.62 And the chief of the priests arose, and said to him, Dost thou return no word ? What are these witnessing against thee?63 But Jeshu was silent. And the chief of the priests answered and said to him, I swear thee, by Aloha the Living, that thou declare to us whether thou be the Meshicha, the Son of Aloha ?64 Jeshu saith to him, Thou hast said: but I say to you, That hereafter ye shall see him, the Son of man, sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.65 Then the chief of the priests tore his robes, and said, Behold, he hath blasphemed ! what further need have we of witnesses ? Behold, now we have heard his blasphemy.66 What will you ? They answered saying, He deserves death.67 Then did they spit in his face, and smote him; and others struck him,68 saying, Prophesy to us, Meshicha ! Who is he that smiteth thee?
69 But Kipha was sitting without, in the hall, and a certain female domestic approached him, saying to him, Thou also wast with Jeshu Natsroia.70 But he denied before all, and said, I know not what thou sayest.71 And when he had gone out into the vestibule, another saw him, and said to them, This also was there with Jeshu Natsroia.72 And again he denied with oaths, I know not the man.73 But, after a little while, they who were standing drew near, and said to Kipha, Assuredly thou art of them; for thy speech also makes thee known.74 Then began he to imprecate and to swear, I know not the man ! And in that hour the cock crowed.75 And Kipha remembered the word of Jeshu, who had said to him, That before the cock shall crow, three times wilt thou have denied me. And he went without, and wept bitterly.
