Luke 12
1 In the meantime so many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each another. Jesus began speaking first to his disciples. “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees—hypocrisy.
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed, nothing secret that won't be made known.
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and whatever you whispered in private will be announced from the rooftops.
Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, for once they've done that there's no more they can do.
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.
5 Let me make it clear whom you should be afraid of. You should be afraid of the one who after he has killed has the power to dispose of them in Gehenna. That's the one you should be afraid of. (Geenna g1067)
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Geenna g1067)
6 Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God doesn't forget a single one of them.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 Even the hairs on your head have been counted. Don't be afraid—you're worth more than many sparrows!
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 I tell you the truth, those who declare they belong to me, the Son of man will also declare they belong to him before God's angels,
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 but those who deny me will be denied before God's angels.
But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 Everyone who speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11 When you're brought to trial before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself, or what you should say.
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what's important to say.”
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 Someone in the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, please tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 “My friend,” Jesus replied, “Who appointed me as your judge to decide how your inheritance should be divided?” He told the people,
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 “Watch out, and beware of all greedy thoughts and actions, for a person's life isn't summed up by all the things they own.”
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 Then he told them a story as an illustration. “Once there was a rich man who owned land that was very productive.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 The man said to himself, ‘What shall I do? I've nowhere to store my crops.
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 I know what I'll do,’ he decided. ‘I'll pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and then I'll be able to store all my crops and everything I own.
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 Then I'll tell myself: You have enough to live on for many years, so take life easy: eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
20 But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Your life will be demanded back this very night, and then who will get everything you've stored up?’
But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 This is what happens to people who hoard up wealth for themselves but are not rich as far as God is concerned.”
So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 Jesus told his disciples, “That's why I tell you don't worry about life, about what to eat, or about what clothes you should wear.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing clothes.
The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.
24 Look at the ravens. They don't sow or reap, they don't have any storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you're far more valuable than birds!
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If you can't do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don't work, and they don't spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 So if God clothes the fields with such beautiful flowers, which are here today but gone tomorrow when they are burned in a fire to heat an oven, how much more will God clothe you, you who have so little trust!
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
29 Don't be concerned about what you're going to eat or drink—don't worry about it.
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 These are all things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 Search for God's kingdom, and you'll be given these things as well.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor. Get yourselves purses that don't wear out: treasure in heaven that will never run out, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For what you value the most shows who you really are.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit,
Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning;
36 like servants waiting for their master when he returns from his wedding feast, prepared to open the door quickly for him when he comes and knocks.
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.
37 How good it will be for those servants that the master finds watching when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed, have them sit down for a meal, and will come and serve them himself!
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 to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 Even if he comes at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and ready!
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants.
39 But remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don't expect him.”
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 “Is this story you're telling just for us, or for everyone?” Peter asked.
Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 The Lord replied, “Who then is the trustworthy and wise manager, the one person in the household that the master puts in charge to share out their food at the right time?
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?
43 It will be good for that servant when his master returns and finds him doing what he should.
Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of everything.
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But what if the servant were to say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and then starts beating the other servants, both men and women, feasting and getting drunk?
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 That servant's master will return unexpectedly one day at a time he wasn't aware of, and will punish him severely, treating him as totally untrustworthy.
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 That servant who knew what his master wanted and yet didn't get ready or follow his instructions, will be beaten severely;
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
48 but the servant who didn't know and did things deserving punishment will be beaten only lightly. From those who are given much, much will be required, and from those who are entrusted with more, more will be demanded.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I have come to set the earth on fire, and I really wish it was already burning!
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to go through, and I'm in agony, wishing it was over!
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, I bring division.
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 From now on, if there are five in a family, they will be divided against each other: three against two, and two against three.
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided against each other—father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds. “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘a rain-shower's coming,’ and it happens.
And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 When a south wind blows, you say ‘it's going to be hot,’ and it is.
And when [ye see] the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 You hypocrites, how is it that you know how to rightly interpret the weather but you don't know how to interpret the present time?
[Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Why don't you think for yourselves and judge what's the right thing to do?
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 As you go with your accuser to the magistrate, on the way you should be working on a settlement. Otherwise you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, [as thou art] in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell you, you won't get out until you've paid the last penny.”
I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
