16 But he said to him, ^g“A man once ^hgave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he ⁱsent his servant¹ to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ^j‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’