Luke 12
1 Amongst which things, when the ten thousands of the multitude were gathered together, so that they were treading one upon another, he began to be saying, unto his disciples, first—Be keeping yourselves free from the leaven of the Pharisees, the which is, hypocrisy.
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.
2 But, nothing, hath been, covered up, which shall not be uncovered, and hidden, which shall not be made known.
For there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed, nothing secret that won't be made known.
3 Because, as many things as, in the darkness, ye have said, in the light, shall be heard; and, what to the ear ye spake, in the chambers, shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
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.
4 And I say unto you, my friends—Do not be put in fear of them who kill the body, and, after these things, have nothing more uncommon which they can do.
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.
5 But I will suggest to you, whom ye should fear—Fear him who, after killing, hath authority to cast into gehenna, —Yea, I say unto you—Him, fear ye. (Geenna g1067)
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)
6 Are not, five sparrows, sold for two farthings? and, not one from among them, hath been forgotten before God.
Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God doesn't forget a single one of them.
7 But, even the hairs of your head, have all been numbered: Be not afraid: many sparrows, ye excel.
Even the hairs on your head have been counted. Don't be afraid—you're worth more than many sparrows!
8 And I say unto you—Whosoever shall confess me before men, even the Son of Man, will confess him, before the messengers of God;
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,
9 But, he who denied me before men, shall be denied before the messengers of God.
but those who deny me will be denied before God's angels.
10 And, whosoever shall say a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but, unto him who, against the Holy Spirit, speaketh profanely, it shall not be forgiven.
Everyone who speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 But, whensoever they shall be bringing you in before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, do not be anxious how, [or what] ye shall answer, or what ye shall say;
When you're brought to trial before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself, or what you should say.
12 For, the Holy Spirit, shall teach you, in that very hour, what ye ought to say.
The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what's important to say.”
13 And one from amongst the multitude said unto him—Teacher! bid my brother divide with me the inheritance.
Someone in the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, please tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
14 But, he, said unto him—Man! who hath appointed me a judge or divider over you?
“My friend,” Jesus replied, “Who appointed me as your judge to decide how your inheritance should be divided?” He told the people,
15 And he said unto them—Mind and be guarding yourselves from all covetousness; for not, in one’s abundance, doth his life spring out of his possessions.
“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.”
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying—A certain rich man’s estate, bare well.
Then he told them a story as an illustration. “Once there was a rich man who owned land that was very productive.
17 And he began to deliberate within himself, saying—What shall I do? because I have not where I can gather my fruits.
The man said to himself, ‘What shall I do? I've nowhere to store my crops.
18 And he said—This, will I do, —I will pull down my barns, and, greater ones, build, and gather, there, all my wheat and good things;
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.
19 and will say to my soul—Soul! thou hast many good things [lying by for many years: be taking thy rest, eat, drink, ] be making merry!
Then I'll tell myself: You have enough to live on for many years, so take life easy: eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’
20 But God said unto him—Simple one! on this very night, they are asking, thy soul, from thee; The things, then, which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
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?’
21 [So, is he that is laying up treasure for himself, and is not rich, towards God.]
This is what happens to people who hoard up wealth for themselves but are not rich as far as God is concerned.”
22 And he said unto his disciples—For this cause, I say unto you, —Be not anxious for the life, what ye shall eat, nor yet for [your] body, what ye shall put on;
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.
23 For, the life, is more, than the food, and, the body, than, the clothing.
Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing clothes.
24 Consider well the ravens—That they sow nor, neither do they reap, which have neither chamber nor barn, —and, God, feedeth, them! By how much do, ye, excel, the birds?
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!
25 And, who from among you, though anxious, can, unto his stature, add a cubit?
Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it?
26 If then, not even the least thing, ye can do, why, concerning the rest, are ye anxious?
If you can't do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest?
27 Consider well the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you—Not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.
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.
28 But, if God thus adorneth, the grass, which is, in a field, to-day, and, to-morrow, into an oven, is cast, how much rather you, O little-of-faith?
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!
29 Ye, therefore, be not seeking what ye shall eat and what ye shall drink, and be not held in suspense;
Don't be concerned about what you're going to eat or drink—don't worry about it.
30 For, after all these things, do, the nations of the world, seek, —but, your Father, knoweth that ye need these things.
These are all things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them.
31 Notwithstanding, be seeking his kingdom, —and, these things, shall be added unto you.
Search for God's kingdom, and you'll be given these things as well.
32 Be not afraid, the dear little flock! for your Father delighteth to give you, the kingdom.
Don't be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions, and give alms, make for yourselves purses that wax not old, —treasure unfailing, in the heavens, where, thief, doth not draw near, and, moth, doth not spoil.
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.
34 For, where your treasure is, there, will your heart he also.
For what you value the most shows who you really are.
35 Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning,
Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit,
36 And, ye yourselves, like unto men awaiting their own lord, once he may break up out of the marriage-feast, —that, when he cometh and knocketh, straightway, they may open unto him.
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.
37 Happy those servants, whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching! Verily, I say unto you—he will gird himself, and make them recline, and, coming near, will minister unto them.
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!
38 And, if, in the second, or if, in the third, watch, he come and find, thus, happy, are, they!
Even if he comes at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and ready!
39 But, of this, be taking note—Had the householder known, in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not suffered his house, to be digged through.
But remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into.
40 Ye, therefore, be getting ready, because, in what hour ye are not thinking, The Son of Man cometh!
You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don't expect him.”
41 But Peter said—Lord! unto us, this parable, speakest thou? or, even unto all?
“Is this story you're telling just for us, or for everyone?” Peter asked.
42 And the Lord said—Who then is the faithful steward, the prudent one, whom the lord will appoint over his body of attendants, to be giving, in due season, the measured allowance of wheat?
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?
43 Happy, that servant, whom the lord, when he cometh shall find doing, thus!
It will be good for that servant when his master returns and finds him doing what he should.
44 Of a truth, I say unto you—Over all his possessions, will he appoint him.
I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of everything.
45 But, if that servant should say in his heart—My lord delayeth to come! and should begin to be striking the youths and the maidens, —to be eating also, and drinking, and making himself drunk,
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?
46 The lord of that servant, will have come—on a day when he is not expecting, and in an hour when he is not taking note, —and will cut him asunder, and, his part, with the unfaithful, will appoint.
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.
47 And, that servant, who had come to know the will of his lord, and neither prepared, nor wrought unto his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
That servant who knew what his master wanted and yet didn't get ready or follow his instructions, will be beaten severely;
48 Whereas, he who had not come to know, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And, every one to whom was given much, much, shall be sought from him; and, he to whom they committed much, for more than common, will they ask him.
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.
49 Fire, came I to cast upon the earth, —and what can I wish, if, already, it hath been, kindled?
I have come to set the earth on fire, and I really wish it was already burning!
50 But, an immersion, have I, to be immersed with, and how am I distressed, until it be ended!
But I have a baptism to go through, and I'm in agony, wishing it was over!
51 Suppose ye, that, peace, I am come to give in the earth? Nay, I tell you, but rather division.
Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, I bring division.
52 For there shall be, henceforth, five in one house, divided, —three against two, and two against three:
From now on, if there are five in a family, they will be divided against each other: three against two, and two against three.
53 There shall be divided—Father against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against the mother, —mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.
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.”
54 And he went on to say, even unto the multitudes, —Whensoever ye see a cloud springing up from the west, straightway, ye are saying—A thunderstorm is coming! and it happeneth thus.
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.
55 And, whensoever a south wind, blowing, ye say—A scorching heat, will there be! and it cometh to pass.
When a south wind blows, you say ‘it's going to be hot,’ and it is.
56 Hypocrites! the face of the earth and of the heaven, ye know how to scan; but, this season, how know ye not to scan;
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?
57 Why, moreover, even from yourselves, judge ye not what is just?
Why don't you think for yourselves and judge what's the right thing to do?
58 For, as thou art going along with thine adversary unto a ruler, on the way, take pains to get a release from him; lest once he drag thee along unto the judge, and, the judge, deliver thee up to the punisher, —and, the punisher, cast thee into prison:
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.
59 I tell thee—In nowise shalt thou come out from thence, until, even the last fraction, thou pay!
I tell you, you won't get out until you've paid the last penny.”
