Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, 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.
Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.
2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed: and hid, that shall not be known.
There is nothing that is covered up which will not be uncovered, nor hidden which will not become 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.
Whatever therefore you have said in the dark, will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered within closed doors will be proclaimed from the house-tops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them which kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
"But to you who are my friends I say, "'Be not afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further.
5 But I will warn 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)
I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him. (Geenna g1067)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.
Are not five sparrows sold for a penny? and yet not one of them is a thing forgotten in God's sight.
7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
But the very hairs on your heads are all counted. Away with fear: you are more precious than a multitude of 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:
"And I tell you that every man who shall have acknowledged me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge 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 he who disowns me before men will be disowned 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.
"Moreover every one who shall speak against the Son of Man, may obtain forgiveness; but he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never obtain forgiveness.
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:
And when they are bringing you before synagogues and magistrates and governors, do not anxiously ponder the manner or matter of your defence, nor what you are to say;
12 for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.
for the Holy Spirit shall teach you at that very moment what you must say."
13 And one out of the multitude said unto him, Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.
Just then a man in the crowd appealed to Him. "Rabbi," he said, "tell my brother to give me a share of the inheritance."
14 But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
"Man," He replied, "who has constituted me a judge or arbitrator 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.
And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops,
17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which 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 corn and my goods.
"And he said to himself, "'This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store up all my harvest and my wealth;
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 life, "'Life, you have ample possessions laid up for many years to come: take your ease, eat, drink, 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, "'Foolish man, this night your life is demanded from you; and these preparations--for whom shall they be?'
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
"So is it with him who amasses treasure for himself, but has no riches in 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 turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, 'Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'
23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.
For life is a greater gift than food, and the body is a greater gift than clothing.
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!
Observe the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, and have neither store-chamber nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How far more precious are you than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto his stature?
And which of you is able by anxious thought to add a moment to his life?
26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?
If then you are unable to do even a very little thing, why be over-anxious about other matters?
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.
Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was as beautifully dressed as one of these.
28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more [shall he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
But if God so clothes the vegetation in the fields, that blooms to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more certainly will He clothe you, you men of feeble faith!
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
"Therefore, do not be asking what you are to eat nor what you are to drink; and do not waver between hope and fear.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
For though the nations of the world pursue these things, as for you, your Father knows that you need them.
31 Howbeit seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.
But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
"Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom.
33 Sell that 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 alms. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, a treasure inexhaustible in Heaven, where no thief can come nor moth consume.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
For where your wealth is stored, there also will your heart be.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;
"Have your girdles on, and let your lamps be alight;
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 be yourselves like men waiting for their master--on the look-out till he shall return from the wedding feast--that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door instantly.
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 servants, whom their Master when He comes shall find on the watch. I tell you in solemn truth, that He will tie an apron round Him, and will bid them recline at table while He comes and waits on 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 whether it be in the second watch or in the third that He comes and finds them so, blessed are they.
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.
Of this be sure, that if the master of the house had known what time the robber was coming, he would have kept awake and not have 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.
Be you also ready, for at an hour when you are not expecting Him the Son of Man will come."
41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?
"Master," said Peter, "are you addressing this parable to us, or to all alike?"
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?
"Who, then," replied the Lord, "is the faithful and intelligent steward whom his Master will put in charge of His household to serve out their rations at the proper times?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Blessed is that servant whom his Master when He comes shall find so doing.
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 authority over 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 is a long time in coming,' and should begin to beat the menservants and the maids, and to eat and drink, drinking even to excess;
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.
that servant's Master will come on a day when he is not expecting Him and at an hour that he knows not of, and will punish him severely, and make him share the lot of the unfaithful.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];
And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.
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 had not been told it and yet did what deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.
49 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what will I, if it is already kindled?
"I came to throw fire upon the earth, and what is my desire? Oh that it were even now 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 am I pent up till it is accomplished!
51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you that I came to bring dissension.
52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
For from this time there will be in one house five persons split into parties. Three will form a party against two and two will form a party 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 against son and son against father; mother attacking daughter and daughter her mother, mother-in-law her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law 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 said to the people also, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'There is to be a shower;' and it comes to pass.
55 And when [ye see] a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.
And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be burning hot;' and it comes to pass.
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?
Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth and sky. How is it you cannot read this present time?
57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
"Why, too, do you not of yourselves arrive at just conclusions?
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 hale thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison.
For when, with your opponent, you are going before the magistrate, on the way take pains to get out of his power; for fear that, if he should drag you before the judge, the judge may hand you over to the officer of the court, and the officer lodge you in prison.
59 I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the very last mite.
Never, I tell you, will you get free till you have paid the last farthing."
