Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section XXIX.

[1] ^{Edition note 1}Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of [2] heaven. ^{Edition note 2}And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of [3] a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ^{Edition note 3}And the disciples were wondering at these sayings. And Jesus answered and said unto them again, My children, how hard it is for those that rely on their possessions to enter the [4] kingdom of God! ^{Edition note 4}And those that were listening wondered more, and said amongst [5] themselves, being agitated,^{Edition note 5} Who, thinkest thou, can be saved? ^{Edition note 6}And Jesus looked at them intently, and said unto them, With men this is not possible, but with God it is: [6] [Arabic, p. 111] it is possible for God to do everything. ^{Edition note 7}Simon Cephas said unto him, Lo, we have left everything, and followed thee; what is it, thinkest thou, that we [7] shall have? ^{Edition note 8}Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, Ye that have followed me, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also [8] shall sit on twelve thrones, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ^{Edition note 9}Verily I say unto you, No man leaveth houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or kinsfolk, or lands, because of the kingdom of God, or for [9] my sake, and the sake of my gospel, ^{Edition note 10}who shall not obtain^{Edition note 11} many times as much in this [10] time, and in the world to come inherit eternal life: ^{Edition note 12}and now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecution; [11] and in the world to come everlasting life. ^{Edition note 13}Many that are first shall be last,^{Edition note 14} and that are last shall be first.

[12] ^{Edition note 15}And when the Pharisees heard all this, because of their love for wealth they [13] scoffed at him. ^{Edition note 16}And Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves before men; while God knows your hearts: the thing that is lofty with men is base before God.

[14] ^{Edition note 17}And he began to say, A certain man was rich, and wore silk and purple, and enjoyed [15] himself every day in splendour: ^{Edition note 18}and there was a poor man named Lazarus, and [16] he was cast down at the door of the rich man, ^{Edition note 19}afflicted with sores, and he longed to fill [Arabic, p. 112] his belly with the crumbs that fell from the table of that rich man; yea, [17] even^{Edition note 20} the dogs used to come and lick his sores. ^{Edition note 21}And it happened that that poor man died, and the angels conveyed him into the bosom of Abraham: and the [18] rich man also died, and was buried. ^{Edition note 22}And while he was being tormented in Hades, [19] he lifted up his eyes from afar, and saw Abraham with^{Edition note 23} Lazarus in his bosom. ^{Edition note 24}And he called with a loud voice, and said, My father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to wet the tip of his finger with water, and moisten my tongue [20] for me; for, behold, I am burned in this flame. ^{Edition note 25}Abraham said unto him, My son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy life, and Lazarus his afflictions: [21] but now, behold, he is at rest here, and thou art tormented. ^{Edition note 26}And in addition to all this, there is between us and you a great abyss placed, so that they that would cross unto you from hence cannot, nor yet from thence do they cross unto [22] us. ^{Edition note 27}He said unto him, Then I beseech thee, my father, to send him to my father’s [23] house; ^{Edition note 28}for I have five brethren; let him go, that they also sin not,^{Edition note 29} and come to [24] the abode of this torment.^{Edition note 30 Edition note 31}Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the [25] prophets; let them hear them. ^{Edition note 32}He said unto him, Nay,^{Edition note 33} my father Abraham: but [26] let a man from the dead go unto them, and they will repent. ^{Edition note 34}Abraham said unto him, If they listen neither to Moses nor to the prophets, neither if a man from the dead rose would they believe him.

[27] ^{Edition note 35}The kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, which went out early [28] in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. ^{Edition note 36}And he agreed with the labourers on [29] one penny a day for each labourer, and he sent them into his vineyard. ^{Edition note 37}And he went [30] [Arabic, p. 113] out in three hours, and saw others standing in the market idle. ^{Edition note 38}He said unto them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and what is right I will pay you. [31] ^{Edition note 39}And they went. And he went out also at the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise, [32] and sent them. ^{Edition note 40}And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle.

He said unto them, Why are ye standing the whole day idle? [33] ^{Edition note 41}They said unto him, Because no one hath hired us. He said unto them, Go ye [34] also into the vineyard, and what is right ye shall receive. ^{Edition note 42}So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers, and pay them [35] their wages; and begin with the later ones, and end with the former ones. ^{Edition note 43}And [36] those of eleven hours^{Edition note 44} came, and received each a penny. ^{Edition note 45}When therefore the first came, they supposed that they should receive something more; and they also [37] received each a penny. ^{Edition note 46}And when they received it, they spake angrily against the [38] householder, and said, ^{Edition note 47}These last worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal [39] with us, who have suffered the heat of the day, and its burden. ^{Edition note 48}He answered and said unto one of them, My friend, I do thee no wrong: was it not for a penny that [40] thou didst bargain with me? ^{Edition note 49}Take what is thine, and go thy way; for I wish to [41] give this last as I have given thee. ^{Edition note 50}Or am I not entitled to do with what is mine^{Edition note 51} [42] what I choose? ^{Edition note 52}Or is thine eye perchance evil, because I am good? Thus shall the last ones be first, and the first last. The called are many, and the chosen are few.

[43] ^{Edition note 53}And when Jesus entered into the house of one of the chiefs of the Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, and they were watching him to see what he would [44, 45] do, ^{Edition note 54}and there was before him a man which had the dropsy, ^{Edition note 55}Jesus answered and [46] said unto the scribes and the Pharisees, Is it lawful on the sabbath to heal? ^{Edition note 56}But [Arabic, p. 114] they were silent. So he took him, and healed him, and sent him away. [47] ^{Edition note 57}And he said unto them, Which of you shall have his son or his ox fall on the sabbath day into a well, and not lift him up straightway, and draw water for [48] him? ^{Edition note 58}And they were not able to answer him a word to that.