Matthew 22:1-14

Moffatt(i) 1 Then Jesus again addressed them in parables. 2 "The Realm of heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who gave a marriage-banquet in honour of his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they would not come. 4 Once more he sent some other servants, saying, 'Tell the invited guests, here is my supper all prepared, my oxen and fat cattle are killed, everything is ready; come to the marriage-banquet.' 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his estate, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants and ill-treated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged; he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The marriage-banquet is all ready, but the invited guests did not deserve it. 9 So go to the byeways and invite anyone you meet to the marriage-banquet.' 10 And those servants went out on the roads and gathered all they met, bad and good alike. Thus the marriage-banquet was supplied with guests. 11 Now when the king came in to view his guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in a wedding-robe. 12 So he said to him, 'My man, how did you get in here without a wedding-robe?' The man was speech less. 13 Then said the king to his servants, 'Take him hand and foot, and throw him outside, out into the darkness; there men will wail and gnash their teeth. 14 For many are invited but few are chosen.'"