New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
16 But He said to him, "A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;
16
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.'
17
At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.'
18
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 "Another one said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.'
19
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 "Another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.'
20
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 "And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
21
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 "And the slave said, 'Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
22
“ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 "And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
23
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
24 'For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.' "
24
I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.