Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of thousands had converged, so that they were stepping on each other, He began to speak first to His disciples: “Guard yourselves from the ‘yeast’ of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
3 Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the ear behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
“Further, I say to you, my friends: do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.
5 But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Geenna g1067)
Rather, I will advise you whom you should fear—fear Him who after He kills has authority to cast into Gehenna; yes indeed, fear Him! (Geenna g1067)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Even the hairs of your head are all numbered! So do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than sparrows!
8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
“Also I say to you, whoever claims me before men, the Son of the Man will also claim him before the angels of God.
9 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
But whoever disclaims me before men will be disclaimed before the angels of God.
10 And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of the Man, it can be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Now whenever they bring you before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what you will answer, or what you should say.
12 for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.
Because the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you need to say.”
13 And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.
Then someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
But He said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter over you?”
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Then He said to them, “Keep alert and guard against covetousness, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Then He told them a parable, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man produced well.
17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
And he reasoned within himself saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no place to store my crops?’
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.
Then he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my produce and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.
And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and enjoy yourself!’
20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
But God said to him: ‘Stupid! This very night your life is being taken back from you; then who will get the things you have prepared?’
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Just like that is he who accumulates treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for [your] life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will wear.
23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.
Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. You are far more valuable than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?
And who among you can add one cubit to his height by worrying?
26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?
So if you cannot do even such a little thing, why worry about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; I say to you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of these.
28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [shall he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
So if God so clothes the grass that today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into an oven, how much more you, O little-faiths!
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Do not concentrate on what you may eat or what you may drink; do not be anxious.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
All these things really occupy the nations of the world, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.
Rather, concentrate on the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be provided for you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
“Do not fear, little flock, because it pleased the Father to give you the Kingdom.
33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
Sell your possessions and give to charity. Make for yourselves ‘purses’ that will not wear out, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where a thief cannot approach, nor a moth destroy.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;
“Let your waists be belted and your lamps burning,
36 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.
and you yourselves like men waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.
Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find watching when he comes. Assuredly I say to you that he will gird himself and have them recline, and will come and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find [them] so, blessed are those [servants].
And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Therefore you also be ready, because the Son of the Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?
Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, are you directing this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
So the Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom his master will place over his household to give them the food allowance at the right time?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
I tell you truly that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
But if that servant should say in his heart, ‘My master won't come for a while,’ and should begin to hit the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.
the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and appoint his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];
“That servant who knew his master's will, but neither got ready nor did according to that will, will be beaten with many blows.
48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
But he who did not know, yet did things worthy of blows, will be beaten with few. Everyone to whom much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him much more will be asked.
49 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!
51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Do you imagine that I came to provide peace on the earth? Not at all, I tell you, but rather division.
52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Because from now on there will be five in one house divided: three against two and two against three.
53 They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.
Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
54 And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.
Then He also said to the crowds: “Whenever you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it does.
55 And when [ye see] a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.
And whenever a south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it happens.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?
Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky and of the earth, so how can you not discern this time?
57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Also why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?
58 For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison.
“When you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.
59 I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the very last mite.
I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.”
