Book of Common Prayer

¹⁵ The traders will sell these things and got much money from the city. They will stand far away from it because they are afraid of the trouble it is having. They will cry and be sad about it.

¹⁶ They will say "How terrible for you, you big strong city! You were wearing linen clothes and purple and red clothes. You were shining with gold, fine stones, and pearls.

¹⁷ In one hour all your great riches are lost." `And all the captains of the boats and all the seamen, the sailors, and all that do business on the sea stood away from it.

¹⁸ They called out loud when they saw the smoke while it burned. They said, "What city is like that big city?"

¹⁹ They threw dust on their heads and they called out loud. They cried and were sad. They said, "How terrible for that big city! All the men who had boats on the sea became rich because it was rich. In one hour it is all lost."

²⁰ `Be glad for what has happened to it, all you who are in heaven, God's people, apostles and prophets. God has punished it for what it did to you!'

²¹ Then a strong angel took up a very heavy stone and threw it into the sea. He said, `So hard will Babylon the big city be thrown down. It will not be seen again.

²² People will not hear music in you again. No harps, no singing, no pipes or horns will ever be heard in you again. No one will make things in you again. The noise of people grinding grain will not be heard in you again.

²³ No lamp will shine in you again. No one will hear the voice of people being married. Your traders were the big people of the world. All the countries were fooled by your witch doctors.

²⁴ The blood of prophets and of God's people and of all who have been killed on earth was found in that city.'

¹² Then Jesus said to the man who had asked him to come, `When you make a dinner or a feast, do not ask your friends, or your brothers, or the people in your family, or your rich neighbours. They will repay you by making a dinner for you.

¹³ But when you make a dinner, ask the people who are poor, hurt, lame, or blind.

¹⁴ You will be made happy because they cannot pay you. You will be repaid when all good people are raised from death.'

¹⁵ One of those who was sitting at the table heard this. He said, `Happy is the person who will eat in the kingdom of God!'

¹⁶ But Jesus said to him, `A man made a big feast and asked many people to come.

¹⁷ When the feast was ready, he sent his servant to tell the people who had been asked. He said, "Come. Everything is ready."

¹⁸ But the people all began to make excuses. The first one said, `I have bought a farm. I must go and see it. I beg you, excuse me from the feast."

¹⁹ Another man said, "I have bought ten oxen. I am going to see them. I beg you, excuse me from the feast."

²⁰ Another one said, "I have married a woman, and so I cannot come."

²¹ `The servant came and told his master. Then the master was very angry. He said to his servant, "Go out quickly. Go on all the streets in the city. Bring here people who are poor, hurt, blind, or lame."

²² `The servant came back and said, "Sir, I have done what you told me to do. There is still room for more people."

²³ Then the master said to the servant, "Go out onto the roads and behind bushes. Find people and make them come in so that my house will be full.

²⁴ I tell you, not one of the men who were called first will eat any of my feast.'