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And as he was casting out a demon that was dumb, it occurred, that when the demon had gone out, the dumb [fn] conversed: and the multitudes admired. ¹⁵ But some of them said: It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he casteth out demons.¹⁶ And others, to tempt him, asked of him a sign from heaven.¹⁷ But Jesus, as he knew their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom that is divided against itself, will become a desolation: and a house that is divided against itself, will fall.¹⁸ And if Satan be divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? since ye say, that I by Beelzebub cast out demons.¹⁹ And if I, by Beelzebub, cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast [fn] out? Therefore will they be to you judges. ²⁰ But if I, by the finger of God, cast out demons, the kingdom of God hath come near to you.²¹ When a strong man armed keepeth his doorway, his property rests securely.²² But if a stronger than he come and overpower him, he taketh away all his arms on which he relied, and divideth the spoil of him.²³ He that is not for me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, actually scattereth.²⁴ An unclean spirit, when he goeth out of a man, goeth wandering in places where no water is, in order to find rest; and, as he cannot find [fn] he saith: I will return to my habitation, from which I came. ²⁵ And when he cometh, he findeth it swept clean and set in order.²⁶ Then he goeth and taketh seven other spirits, worse than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

²⁷ And while he was saying these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifted up her voice, and said to him: Blessed is the womb that carried thee, and the breasts that nursed thee.²⁸ He said to her: Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.

²⁹ And when multitudes were assembled, he began to say: This evil generation seeketh a sign; and no sign will be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of man be a sign to this generation.³¹ The queen of the south will stand up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them; for she came from the other side of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, one superior to Solomon is here.³² The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo, one superior to Jonah is here.³³ No one lighteth a lamp, and putteth it in a secret place, or under a bushel, but upon a light-stand; that they who come in, may see its light.³⁴ The lamp of thy body is thy eye. Therefore, when thy eye is sound, thy whole body will be enlightened; but if it be bad, thy body also will be dark.³⁵ See to it, therefore, lest the light that is in thee, be darkness.³⁶ For if thy whole body be enlightened, and no part in it be dark, the whole will be luminous, as if a lamp enlightened thee by its radiance.

³⁷ And while he was speaking, a certain Pharisee requested him to dine with him: and he went in, and reclined.³⁸ And the Pharisee noticing him, wondered that he did not previously baptize before dinner.³⁹ And Jesus said to him: Now ye Pharisees make clean the exterior of the cup and the dish; but your interior is full of extortion and wickedness.⁴⁰ Ye deficient in understanding! did not he who made the exterior, make also the interior?⁴¹ But, give ye alms from what ye possess; and lo, every thing will be clean to you.⁴² But woe to you, Pharisees ! for ye tithe mint and rue, and every pot-herb; but pass over justice and the love of God. Now ye ought to do these things, and not to omit those.⁴³ Woe to you, Pharisees! who love the chief seats in the synagogues, and a salutation in the streets.⁴⁴ Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye are like graves that are unknown, and men walk over them and do not know [fn] . ⁴⁵ And one of the Scribes replied, and said to him: Teacher, while saying these things, thou reproachest us also.⁴⁶ And he said: Woe to you also! ye Scribes, who lade men with heavy burdens; yet ye yourselves will not touch those burdens with one of your fingers⁴⁷ Woe to you! who build the sepulchres of the prophets, whom your fathers slew.⁴⁸ Thus ye testify, that ye acquiesce in the deeds of your fathers; for they slew them, and ye build their sepulchres.⁴⁹ Therefore hath wisdom said: Lo, I will send to them prophets and legates; and some of them they will persecute and slay;⁵⁰ that from this generation may be required, the blood of all the prophets, which hath been shed since the world was created;⁵¹ from the blood of Abel, to the blood of Zachariah who was slain between the temple and the altar. Yea, say I to you: It will be required of this generation.⁵² Woe to you, Scribes; for ye have taken away the keys of knowledge: ye yourselves enter not, and them that are entering ye hinder.⁵³ And when he had said these things to them, the Scribes and Pharisees began to be offended, and became angry, and carped at his discourses,⁵⁴ and practised many wiles upon him, seeking to catch some thing from his lips, that they might accuse him.