as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.

自己好像仆人等候主人从婚姻的筵席上回来。他来到，叩门，就立刻给他开门。

好像仆人等候自己的主人从婚宴上回来。他来叩门，就立刻给他开门。

好像仆人等候自己的主人从婚宴上回来。他来叩门，就立刻给他开门。

像奴仆们等候主人从婚宴回来。主人回来一叩门，奴仆就可以立即给他开门。

像等候自己的主人从婚筵回来一样，好叫你们在主人回来敲门时，立刻给他开门。

要像期待着主人从婚宴上回来的人那样；好在主人回来敲门的时候，能立刻为他开门。

自己好像僕人等候主人從婚姻的筵席上回來。他來到，叩門，就立刻給他開門。

好像僕人等候自己的主人從婚宴上回來。他來叩門，就立刻給他開門。

好像僕人等候自己的主人從婚宴上回來。他來叩門，就立刻給他開門。

像奴僕們等候主人從婚宴回來。主人回來一叩門，奴僕就可以立即給他開門。

像等候自己的主人從婚筵回來一樣，好叫你們在主人回來敲門時，立刻給他開門。

也要像人等候着主人；主人從婚筵上散回、來敲門時、他們好立刻給他開。

要像期待著主人從婚宴上回來的人那樣；好在主人回來敲門的時候，能立刻為他開門。

效人俟主自婚筵歸、至而叩門即為之啟也、

效人候主、自昏筵歸、至而叩門、即可啟也、

爾當如人候其主人自婚筵歸、至而叩門、即為之啟、

一如僕人延佇其主之歸自婚筵。至而叩門、立為之啟。

like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks.

and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him.

You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the wedding feast; that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.

“ Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!

“ The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return— in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak.Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Jesus also told them other parables. He said,“ The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!“ So he sent other servants to tell them,‘ The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.“ The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.And he said to his servants,‘ The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.“ But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.‘ Friend,’ he asked,‘ how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.Then the king said to his aides,‘ Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’“ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I trust in you for salvation, O Lord!

And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

“ So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon himand had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,“ Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.I have seen your salvation,

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

“ Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.“ At midnight they were roused by the shout,‘ Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’“ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.Then the five foolish ones asked the others,‘ Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’“ But the others replied,‘ We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’“ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling,‘ Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’“ But he called back,‘ Believe me, I don’t know you!’“ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh as I pulled back the bolt.I opened to my lover, but he was gone! My heart sank. I searched for him but could not find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply.

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.