or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly.

When it returns, ¹  it finds the house ²  swept clean and put in order. ³ 

Blessed is that slave ¹  whom his master finds at work ²  when he returns.

Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ¹  When it returns, ²  it finds the house ³  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁴ 

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive ¹  him.”

They are illustrations of this true proverb: ¹  “A dog returns to its own vomit,” ²  and “A sow, after washing herself, ³  wallows in the mire.” ⁴ 

Blessed are those slaves ¹  whom their master finds alert ²  when he returns! I tell you the truth, ³  he will dress himself to serve, ⁴  have them take their place at the table, ⁵  and will come ⁶  and wait on them! ⁷