'The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,

and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come.

Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts;

then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready, and those called were not worthy,

be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts.

'And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.

'And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast,

and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.

'And while they are going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the marriage-feasts, and the door was shut;

'When thou mayest be called by any one to marriage-feasts, thou mayest not recline on the first couch, lest a more honourable than thou may have been called by him,