Study Desk

And he went on to speak, unto the invited, a parable, - observing how, the first couches, they were choosing; saying unto them -

Whensoever thou hast been invited by anyone unto a marriage feast, do not recline on the first couch; lest once, a more honourable than thou, have been invited by him,

and he that invited both thee and him should come, and say unto thee - Give, unto this one, place! and, then, thou shouldst begin, with shame, the last place, to occupy.

But, whensoever thou hast been invited, pass on and fall back into the last place, that, whensoever he that hath invited thee shall come, he may say unto thee - Friend! come close up, higher. Then, shalt thou have honour before all who are reclining together with thee.

Because, everyone who exalteth himself, shall be abased; and, he that abaseth himself, shall be exalted?

Moreover he went on to say, unto him also who had invited him, - Whensoever thou mayest be making a dinner or a supper, do not call thy friends, or thy brothers, or thy kinsfolk, or rich neighbours, - lest once, they also, invite thee in return, and it become a recompense unto thee.

But, whensoever, an entertainment, thou mayest be making, invite the destitute, the tried, the lame, the blind;

and, happy, shalt thou be, that they have not wherewith to recompense thee, for it shall be recompensed unto thee, in the resurrection of the righteous.