Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section XXVI.

[1, 2] ^{Edition note 1}And there came unto him publicans and sinners to hear his word. ^{Edition note 2}And the scribes and the Pharisees murmured, and said, This man receiveth sinners, and [3] eateth with them. ^{Edition note 3}And Jesus, when he beheld their murmuring, spake unto them [4] this parable: ^{Edition note 4}What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if one of them were lost, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go and seek the straying one [5] till he found it? ^{Edition note 5}Verily I say unto you, When he findeth it, he will rejoice over it [6] more than over the ninety-nine that went not astray; ^{Edition note 6}and bear it on his shoulders, and bring it to his house, and call his friends and neighbours, ^{Edition note 7}and say unto them, [7] Rejoice with me, since I have found my straying sheep. ^{Edition note 8}So your Father which is in heaven willeth^{Edition note 9} not that one of these little ones that have strayed should perish, [8] and he seeketh for them repentance. ^{Edition note 10}I say unto you, Thus there shall be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons that do not need repentance.

[9] ^{Edition note 11}And what woman having ten drachmas would lose one of them, and not light a [10] lamp, and sweep the house, and seek it with care till she found it; ^{Edition note 12}and when she found it, call her friends and neighbours, and say unto them, Rejoice with me, as I [11] have found my drachma that was lost? ^{Edition note 13}I say unto you, Thus there shall be joy [Arabic, p. 101] before the angels of God over the one sinner that repenteth, more than over the ninety-nine righteous persons that do not need repentance.

[12, 13] ^{Edition note 14}And Jesus spake unto them also another parable: ^{Edition note 15}A man had two sons: and the younger son said unto him, My father, give me my portion that belongeth to [14] me of thy goods. ^{Edition note 16}And he divided between them his property. And after a few days the younger son gathered everything that belonged to him, and went into a [15] far country, and there squandered his property by living prodigally. ^{Edition note 17}And when he had exhausted everything he had, there occurred a great dearth in that country. [16] ^{Edition note 18}And when he was in want, he went and joined himself to one of the people of a city [17] of that country; and that man sent him into the field^{Edition note 19} to feed the swine. ^{Edition note 20}And he used to long to fill his belly with the carob that those swine were eating: and no man [18] gave him. ^{Edition note 21}And when he returned unto himself, he said, How many hired servants now in my father’s house have bread enough and to spare, while I here perish with [19] hunger! ^{Edition note 22}I will arise and go to my father’s house, and say unto him, My father, ^{Edition note 23}I [20] have sinned in heaven and before thee, and am not worthy now to be called thy [21] son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ^{Edition note 24}And he arose, and came to his father.

But his father saw him while he was at a distance, and was moved with compassion [22] for him, and ran,^{Edition note 25} and fell on his breast,^{Edition note 26} and kissed him. ^{Edition note 27}And his son said unto him, My father, I have sinned in heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be [23] called thy son. ^{Edition note 28}His father said unto his servants, Bring forth a stately robe, and put [24] it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and put on him shoes on his feet: ^{Edition note 29}and bring and [25] slay a fatted ox, that we may eat and make merry: ^{Edition note 30}for this my son was dead, and is [26] [Arabic, p. 102] alive; and was lost, and is found. ^{Edition note 31}And they began to be merry.^{Edition note 32} Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and drew near to the house, [27] he heard the sound of many singing.^{Edition note 33 Edition note 34}And he called one of the lads, and asked him [28] what this was. ^{Edition note 35}He said unto him, Thy brother hath arrived; and thy father hath [29] slain a fatted ox, since he hath received him safe and sound.^{Edition note 36 Edition note 37}And he was angry, [30] and would not enter; so his father went out, and besought him to enter. ^{Edition note 38}And he said to his father, How many years do I serve thee in bondage, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and thou hast never given me a kid, that I might [31] make merry with my friends? ^{Edition note 39}but this thy son, when he had squandered thy [32] property with harlots, and come, thou hast slain for him a fatted ox. ^{Edition note 40}His father said unto him, My son, thou art at all times with me, and everything I have is [33] thine. ^{Edition note 41}It behoveth thee to rejoice and make merry, since this thy brother was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is found.

[34] ^{Edition note 42}And he spake a parable unto his disciples: There was a rich man, and he had [35] a steward; and he was accused to him that he had squandered his property. ^{Edition note 43}So his lord called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear regarding thee? Give me the account of thy stewardship; for it is now impossible that thou shouldest [36] be a steward for me. ^{Edition note 44}The steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; and to beg^{Edition note 45} I [37] am ashamed. ^{Edition note 46}I know what I will do, that, when I go out of the stewardship, they [38] may receive me into their houses. ^{Edition note 47}And he called one after another of his lord’s [39] debtors, and said to the first, How much owest thou my lord? ^{Edition note 48}He said unto him, An hundred portions^{Edition note 49} of oil.

He said unto him, Take thy writing, and sit down, and write [40] quickly fifty portions.^{Edition note 50 Edition note 51}And he said to the next, And thou, how much owest thou my lord? He said unto him, An hundred cors of wheat. He said unto him, Take [41] [Arabic, p. 103] thy writing, and sit down, and write eighty cors. ^{Edition note 52}And our^{Edition note 53} lord commended the sinful steward^{Edition note 54} because he had done a wise deed; for the children [42] of this world are wiser than the children of the light in this their age. ^{Edition note 55}And I also say unto you, Make unto yourselves friends with the wealth of this unrighteousness;^{Edition note 56} [43] so that, when it is exhausted, they may receive you into their tents for ever. ^{Edition note 57}He who is faithful in^{Edition note 58} a little is faithful also in much: and he who is unrighteous in a [44] little is unrighteous also in much. ^{Edition note 59}If then in the wealth of unrighteousness ye were [45] not trustworthy, who will intrust you with the truth?^{Edition note 60 Edition note 61}If ye are not found faithful in what does not belong to you, who will give you what belongeth to you?