Book of Common Prayer

¹¹ Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb but talked like a dragon.

¹² It uses all the power of the first beast and stands with it. It makes all the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast. That was the beast whose bad cut was healed.

¹³ The second beast does wonderful things. It even makes fire fall from the sky to the earth for everyone to see.

¹⁴ It fools the people who live on earth by the wonderful things which it has been given power to do, while the first beast looks on. It tells the people on earth to make an idol like the first beast that was cut by the big knife but lived.

¹⁵ It was given power to make the idol of the beast live. The idol of the beast could speak and command all those who would not worship the idol to be killed.

¹⁶ It makes all the people take a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads. That means all people, those who are great and those who are not great, the poor, free men, and slaves.

¹⁷ No one could buy or sell anything if he did not have this mark. This mark is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

¹⁸ Here wisdom is needed. If a person understands, he should count the number of the beast. It is the number of a man's name. Its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

³² `Do not fear, little family. Your Father wants to give the kingdom to you.

³³ Sell what you have and give it to poor people. Make for yourselves money bags that will not wear out. Keep the things you like in heaven. They will not be lost there. People cannot go in and steal them, and insects cannot spoil them.

³⁴ The place where you keep the things you like is where your heart will be also.'

³⁵ `Be dressed and have your lamps lit.

³⁶ Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding. They are ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.

³⁷ Happy the servants who are ready when the master comes! The servants who are ready when the master comes will be made happy. I tell you the truth. The master will get ready to serve them. He will set them at the table and will come and serve them.

³⁸ He may come in the middle of the night or when it is nearly morning. But if they are watching for the master, they will be happy.

³⁹ `And remember this. If the owner of a house knew at what time a man would come to steal, he would not let the man break into his house.

⁴⁰ So then, be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you are not looking for him.'

⁴¹ Peter said, `Lord, are you telling this story for us or for all the people?'

⁴² The Lord said, `Who is like a wise servant who can be trusted? His master will put him in charge of his other servants. He gives them food to eat at the right time.

⁴³ His master will bless that servant if he is doing this when he comes!

⁴⁴ I tell you the truth. His master will put him in charge of all that he has

⁴⁵ But perhaps that servant says to himself, "My master will not come just now." Then he begins to beat the other servants. He begins to eat and drink until he is drunk.

⁴⁶ If he does that, his master will come on a day when he is not looking for him. He will not know the time when his master is coming. His master will punish him very much and put him away with those he cannot trust.

⁴⁷ `A servant knew what his master wanted. But he was not ready. He did not do what his master wanted him to do. So he will be beaten much.

⁴⁸ But if a servant did not know and did something bad, he will be beaten only a little. To whom much has been given, from him much will be asked. When people give much to anyone, they will ask more from him.