Luke 12
1 While they were doing that, many thousands of people gathered [around Jesus]. There were so many that they were stepping on each other. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of [becoming] hypocrites [like] the Pharisees. Their [evil influence] [MET] [spreads to others like] yeast [spreads its influence in dough].
Ἐν οἷς ἐπισυναχθεισῶν τῶν μυριάδων τοῦ ὄχλου, ὥστε καταπατεῖν ἀλλήλους, ἤρξατο λέγειν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ πρῶτον· Προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης, ⸂ἥτις ἐστὶν ὑπόκρισις, τῶν Φαρισαίων⸃.
2 People will not be able to continue concealing the things that [they or other] people try to conceal now. [God] will [some day] cause the things that are hidden now to be known {[everyone] to know the things that they hide now}.
οὐδὲν δὲ συγκεκαλυμμένον ἐστὶν ὃ οὐκ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται, καὶ κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ γνωσθήσεται.
3 All the things that you say in the dark [secretly, some day] will be heard {people will hear them} in the daylight. The things you have whispered [SYN] privately among yourselves in your rooms will be proclaimed {[people] will proclaim them} publicly.”
ἀνθʼ ὧν ὅσα ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ εἴπατε ἐν τῷ φωτὶ ἀκουσθήσεται, καὶ ὃ πρὸς τὸ οὖς ἐλαλήσατε ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις κηρυχθήσεται ἐπὶ τῶν δωμάτων.
4 “My friends, listen [carefully]. Do not be afraid of people who [are able to] kill you, but after they kill you, there is nothing more that they can do [to hurt you].
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν τοῖς φίλοις μου, μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεινόντων τὸ σῶμα καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα μὴ ἐχόντων περισσότερόν τι ποιῆσαι.
5 But I will warn you about the one that you should truly be afraid of. You should be afraid of [God], because he not only has [the power to] cause people to die, he has the power to throw them into hell afterward! Yes, he is truly the one that you should be afraid of! (Geenna g1067)
ὑποδείξω δὲ ὑμῖν τίνα φοβηθῆτε· φοβήθητε τὸν μετὰ τὸ ἀποκτεῖναι ⸂ἔχοντα ἐξουσίαν ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν γέενναν· ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν, τοῦτον φοβήθητε. (Geenna g1067)
6 [Think about] the sparrows. [They are worth so little] that [you] can [RHQ] buy five of them for only two small coins. But not one of them is ever forgotten by God {God never forgets one of them}!
οὐχὶ πέντε στρουθία ⸀πωλοῦνταιἀσσαρίων δύο; καὶ ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιλελησμένον ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.
7 You are worth more [to God] than many sparrows. So do not be afraid [of what people can do to you! God] even knows how many hairs there are on each of your heads, [so that if you(sg) lose one hair, he knows about it. So nothing bad can happen to you without his knowing it].
ἀλλὰ καὶ αἱ τρίχες τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν πᾶσαι ἠρίθμηνται· ⸀μὴφοβεῖσθε· πολλῶν στρουθίων διαφέρετε.
8 I want to tell you also that if people, [without being afraid, are willing to] tell others [that they are my disciples], [I], the one who came from heaven, will acknowledge before [God that they are my disciples]. [I will do that while] God’s angels listen.
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, πᾶς ὃς ἂν ⸀ὁμολογήσῃἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁμολογήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ·
9 But if people [are] afraid to say in front of others that they are [my disciples], [I] will say, while God’s angels listen, that they are not [my disciples].
ὁ δὲ ἀρνησάμενός με ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀπαρνηθήσεται ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ.
10 [I will tell you] also that [God is willing to] forgive people who say bad things about me, the one who came from heaven, but [he] will not forgive anyone who says evil things about what the Holy Spirit [does].
καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἐρεῖ λόγον εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ τῷ δὲ εἰς τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα βλασφημήσαντι οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται.
11 [So] when people ask you in Jewish worship houses and in the presence of rulers and other authorities [about your trusting in me], do not worry about how you will answer them [when they accuse you]. Do not worry about what you should say,
ὅταν δὲ ⸀εἰσφέρωσινὑμᾶς ἐπὶ τὰς συναγωγὰς καὶ τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας, μὴ ⸀μεριμνήσητεπῶς ⸂ἢ τί ἀπολογήσησθε ἢ τί εἴπητε·
12 because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say.”
τὸ γὰρ ἅγιον πνεῦμα διδάξει ὑμᾶς ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἃ δεῖ εἰπεῖν.
13 Then one of the people in the crowd said to [Jesus], “Teacher, tell my [older] brother to divide my father’s property and give me [the part that belongs] to me!”
Εἶπεν δέ τις ⸂ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου αὐτῷ· Διδάσκαλε, εἰπὲ τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μερίσασθαι μετʼ ἐμοῦ τὴν κληρονομίαν.
14 But Jesus replied to him, “Man, (no one appointed me in order that I would settle [matters when people are] disputing about property!/did anyone appoint me in order that I would settle [matters when people are] disputing about property?) [RHQ]”
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἄνθρωπε, τίς με κατέστησεν ⸀κριτὴνἢ μεριστὴν ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς;
15 Then he said to the whole crowd, “Guard yourselves very carefully, in order that you do not desire other people’s things in any way! No one can make his life secure by [obtaining] many possessions.”
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· Ὁρᾶτε καὶ φυλάσσεσθε ἀπὸ ⸀πάσηςπλεονεξίας, ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ περισσεύειν τινὶ ἡ ζωὴ ⸀αὐτοῦἐστιν ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ⸀αὐτῷ
16 Then Jesus told the people this illustration: “There was a certain rich man whose crops grew very well.
εἶπεν δὲ παραβολὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα.
17 [So] he said [to himself], ‘I do not know what to do, because I do not have any place [big enough] to store all my crops!’
καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ⸀ἑαυτῷλέγων· Τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου;
18 Then he thought to himself, ‘[I know] what I will do! I will tear down my grain bins and build larger ones! Then I will store all my wheat and other goods in [the big new bins].
καὶ εἶπεν· Τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα ⸂τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου,
19 [Then] I will say to myself [SYN], “Now I have plenty of goods stored up. [They will last] for many years. [So now] I will take life easy. I will eat and drink [all that I want to] and be happy [for a long time]!”’
καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· Ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου.
20 But God said to him, ‘You foolish [man]! Tonight you will die! (Then all [the goods] you have saved up [for yourself] will [belong to someone else, not to] you!/Do you think that you [will benefit from] all that you have stored up for yourself?) [RHQ]’”
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ θεός· ⸀Ἄφρων ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ⸀ἀπαιτοῦσινἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας, τίνι ἔσται;
21 [Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying], “That is what will happen to those who store up goods just for themselves, but who do not value the things [that] God [considers] valuable.”
οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ⸀ἑαυτῷκαὶ μὴ εἰς θεὸν πλουτῶν.
22 Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “So I want to tell you this: Do not worry about [things you need] in order to live. Do not worry about [whether you will have enough food] to eat or [enough clothes] to wear.
Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ· Διὰ τοῦτο ⸂λέγω ὑμῖν, μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ⸀ψυχῇτί φάγητε, μηδὲ τῷ ⸀σώματιτί ἐνδύσησθε.
23 It is important to have sufficient food and clothing, but (the way you conduct your lives is more important./is not the way you conduct your lives more important?) [RHQ]
ἡ ⸀γὰρψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος.
24 Think about the birds: They do not plant [seeds], and they do not harvest [crops]. They do not have rooms or buildings in which to store crops. But God provides food for them. [And] you are certainly much more valuable than birds. [So God will certainly provide what you need]!
κατανοήσατε τοὺς κόρακας ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ταμεῖον οὐδὲ ἀποθήκη, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τρέφει αὐτούς· πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς διαφέρετε τῶν πετεινῶν.
25 (There is not a one of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it!/Is there any of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it?) [RHQ]
τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται ⸂ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι ⸀πῆχυν
26 Worrying is a small thing to do. So since you cannot add to your life, (you certainly should not worry about other things that [you need to have in order to live!]/why do you worry about other things that [you need to have in order to live]?) [RHQ]
εἰ οὖν ⸀οὐδὲἐλάχιστον δύνασθε, τί περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν μεριμνᾶτε;
27 Think about the way that flowers grow [in the fields]. They do not work [to earn money], and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that [even though King] Solomon, [who lived long ago, wore very beautiful clothes], his clothes were not as beautiful as one of those [flowers].
κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
28 God makes the flowers beautiful, but they grow in the fields for only a short time. Then [they are cut at the same time that the grass] is cut, and thrown into an oven [to be burned to make heat for baking] bread. [So they really are not worth very much. But you are very precious to] God, [and he] will [care for you] much more [than he cares for the grass by filling it with beautiful flowers]. So he will certainly provide clothes for you, who [live much longer than the grass. Why] [RHQ] [do you] trust him so little?
εἰ δὲ ⸂ἐν ἀγρῷ τὸν χόρτον ὄντα σήμερον καὶ αὔριον εἰς κλίβανον βαλλόμενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ⸀ἀμφιέζει πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς, ὀλιγόπιστοι.
29 Do not always be concerned about having enough to eat and drink, and do not be worrying about those things.
καὶὑμεῖς μὴ ζητεῖτε τί φάγητε ⸀καὶ τί πίητε, καὶ μὴ μετεωρίζεσθε,
30 The people who do not know God are always worried about such things. But your Father [in heaven] knows that you need those things, [so you should not worry about them].
ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τοῦ κόσμου ⸀ἐπιζητοῦσιν ὑμῶν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ οἶδεν ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων.
31 Instead, be concerned about letting [God] completely direct [your life]. Then [he] will also give you enough of the things [you need].
πλὴν ζητεῖτε τὴν βασιλείαν ⸀αὐτοῦ καὶ ⸀ταῦταπροστεθήσεται ὑμῖν.
32 [You who are my disciples are like a] small flock of sheep, [and I am like your shepherd]. So you should not be afraid. Your Father [in heaven] wants to let you rule with him [in heaven].
Μὴ φοβοῦ, τὸ μικρὸν ποίμνιον, ὅτι εὐδόκησεν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν δοῦναι ὑμῖν τὴν βασιλείαν.
33 [So now] sell the things that you own. Give [the money that you get for those things] to poor people. [If you do that, it will be as though] you are providing for yourselves purses that will not wear out, and [God will give] you a treasure in heaven that will always be safe. There, no thief can come near [to steal it], and no termite can destroy it.
πωλήσατε τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ὑμῶν καὶ δότε ἐλεημοσύνην· ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς βαλλάντια μὴ παλαιούμενα, θησαυρὸν ἀνέκλειπτον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ὅπου κλέπτης οὐκ ἐγγίζει οὐδὲ σὴς διαφθείρει·
34 Remember that [the things] that you [think are the most] valuable are [the things] that you will be constantly concerned about.”
ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν ἔσται.
35 “Be always ready [for doing God’s work] [MET], like [people] who have put on their work clothes and are ready [during the day], with their lamps burning all night.
Ἔστωσαν ὑμῶν αἱ ὀσφύες περιεζωσμέναι καὶ οἱ λύχνοι καιόμενοι,
36 Be [ready for me to return] [MET], like servants who are waiting for their master to return after being at a wedding feast [for several days]. They are [waiting to] open the door for him and [start working for him again] as soon as he arrives and knocks at the door.
καὶ ὑμεῖς ὅμοιοι ἀνθρώποις προσδεχομένοις τὸν κύριον ἑαυτῶν πότε ἀναλύσῃ ἐκ τῶν γάμων, ἵνα ἐλθόντος καὶ κρούσαντος εὐθέως ἀνοίξωσιν αὐτῷ.
37 If those servants are awake when he returns, [he will] be very pleased with them. I will tell you this: He will put on [the kind of clothes] that servants wear and tell them to sit down, and he will serve them a meal.
μακάριοι οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι, οὓς ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος εὑρήσει γρηγοροῦντας· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι περιζώσεται καὶ ἀνακλινεῖ αὐτοὺς καὶ παρελθὼν διακονήσει αὐτοῖς.
38 [Even] if he comes between midnight and sunrise, if he finds that his servants are [awake and] ready [for him], he will be very pleased with them.
⸂κἂν ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ κἂν ἐν τῇ τρίτῃ φυλακῇ ἔλθῃ καὶ εὕρῃ οὕτως, μακάριοί ⸀εἰσινἐκεῖνοι.
39 But you must also remember this: If owners of a house knew what time a thief was coming, they [would stay awake and] would not allow their house to be broken into [and their goods to be stolen] {[the thief] to break into the house [and steal their goods]}.
Τοῦτο δὲ γινώσκετε ὅτι εἰ ᾔδει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης ποίᾳ ὥρᾳ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται, ⸂οὐκ ἂν ἀφῆκεν ⸀διορυχθῆναιτὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.
40 Similarly, you must be ready [for me to return], because [I], the one who came from heaven, will come [again] at a time when you do not expect [me to come].”
καὶ ⸀ὑμεῖςγίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι, ὅτι ᾗ ὥρᾳ οὐ δοκεῖτε ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται.
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you [(sg)] speaking this illustration [only] for us or for everyone [else also]?”
Εἶπεν ⸀δὲὁ Πέτρος· Κύριε, πρὸς ἡμᾶς τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην λέγεις ἢ καὶ πρὸς πάντας;
42 The Lord replied, “[I am saying it for you and for anyone else] [MET, RHQ] who is like a faithful and wise manager in his master’s house. His master appoints him to [supervise affairs in his house] and to give all the [other] servants their food at the proper time. [Then he leaves on a long trip].
⸂καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος· Τίς ἄρα ἐστὶν ὁ πιστὸ οἰκονόμος, ⸀ὁ φρόνιμος, ὃν καταστήσει ὁ κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς θεραπείας αὐτοῦ τοῦ διδόναι ἐν καιρῷ ⸀τὸ σιτομέτριον;
43 If the servant is doing that work when his master returns, [his master] will be very pleased with him.
μακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος, ὃν ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει ποιοῦντα οὕτως·
44 I tell you this: His master will appoint him to supervise all of his affairs [permanently].
ἀληθῶς λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ καταστήσει αὐτόν.
45 But that servant might think to himself, ‘My master [has been away] for a long time, [so he probably will] not return soon [and find out what I am doing].’ [Then he might] start to beat the [other] servants, both male and female ones. [He might also start] to eat [a lot of food] and get drunk.
ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· Χρονίζει ὁ κύριός μου ἔρχεσθαι, καὶ ἄρξηται τύπτειν τοὺς παῖδας καὶ τὰς παιδίσκας, ἐσθίειν τε καὶ πίνειν καὶ μεθύσκεσθαι,
46 [If he does that, and if] his master returns on a day when the servant does not expect him, then his master will (cut him into two pieces/punish him severely) [HYP] and put him [in the place where he puts all] those who do not [serve him] faithfully.
ἥξει ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷ καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει, καὶ διχοτομήσει αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων θήσει.
47 Every servant who knows what his master wants him to do but who does not get himself ready and does not do what his master desires will be beaten severely {[The master] will beat severely every servant who knows what his master wants him to do but who does not get himself ready and does not do what his master desires}.
ἐκεῖνος δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ὁ γνοὺς τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου ⸀αὐτοῦκαὶ μὴ ἑτοιμάσας ⸀ἢποιήσας πρὸς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ δαρήσεται πολλάς·
48 But every [servant] who did not know [what his master wanted] him to do, and who did things for which he deserved to be punished, will be beaten lightly {[the master] will beat lightly every [servant] who did not know [what his master wanted] him to do and did the things for which he deserved that [his master] would beat him}. [God will treat his people similarly, because he] expects a lot from those people whom [he] has allowed [to understand a lot]. People who entrust things [to others’ care] expect those people [to care for those things] very well. Similarly, [God] expects a lot from those people whom he has allowed [to understand a lot]. Furthermore, he expects the most from people to whom he has given the most [ability].”
ὁ δὲ μὴ γνοὺς ποιήσας δὲ ἄξια πληγῶν δαρήσεται ὀλίγας. παντὶ δὲ ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ, πολὺ ζητηθήσεται παρʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾧ παρέθεντο πολύ, περισσότερον αἰτήσουσιν αὐτόν.
49 “I came to earth to cause [there to be trials] [MET], [which will purify you as] fire [purifies metal] (OR, to cause judgment/divisions among you). I wish that the time when [you] will be purified {when [God] will purify you} (OR, when divisions will be caused {to cause divisions among people}) had already begun.
Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν ⸀ἐπὶτὴν γῆν, καὶ τί θέλω εἰ ἤδη ἀνήφθη;
50 I must soon suffer [IDM] greatly. I am distressed, and I will continue to be distressed until my suffering is finished.
βάπτισμα δὲ ἔχω βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ πῶς συνέχομαι ἕως ⸀ὅτουτελεσθῇ.
51 Do you think that as a result of my coming to earth people will live together peacefully? No! I must tell you, [that is not what will happen! Instead, people] will be divided.
δοκεῖτε ὅτι εἰρήνην παρεγενόμην δοῦναι ἐν τῇ γῇ; οὐχί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀλλʼ ἢ διαμερισμόν.
52 Because some people in one house [will believe in me and some will not], they will be divided. [For example], three people in one house [who do not believe in me] will oppose two [who do believe], or two [who do not believe in me] will oppose three [who do believe].
ἔσονται γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν πέντε ἐν ⸂ἑνὶ οἴκῳ διαμεμερισμένοι, τρεῖς ἐπὶ δυσὶν καὶ δύο ἐπὶ τρισίν,
53 A man will oppose his son, or a son will oppose his father. A woman will oppose her daughter, or a woman will oppose her mother. A woman will oppose her daughter-in-law, or a woman will oppose her mother-in-law.”
⸀διαμερισθήσονταιπατὴρ ἐπὶυἱῷ καὶ υἱὸς ἐπὶ πατρί, μήτηρ ⸀ἐπὶ ⸀θυγατέρακαὶ θυγάτηρ ἐπὶ ⸂τὴν μητέρα, πενθερὰ ἐπὶ τὴν νύμφην αὐτῆς καὶ νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν ⸀πενθεράν
54 He [also] said to the crowds, “[In this country], when you see a [dark] cloud forming in the west, you immediately say ‘It is going to rain!’ and that is what happens.
Ἔλεγεν δὲ καὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις· Ὅταν ⸀ἴδητενεφέλην ἀνατέλλουσαν ⸀ἐπὶδυσμῶν, εὐθέως λέγετε ⸀ὅτιὌμβρος ἔρχεται, καὶ γίνεται οὕτως·
55 [In this region], when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It is going to be a very hot day!’ and that is what happens.
καὶ ὅταν νότον πνέοντα, λέγετε ὅτι Καύσων ἔσται, καὶ γίνεται.
56 You hypocrites! By observing the clouds and the wind, you are able to discern what is happening regarding [the weather]. It is disgusting that you are not able to discern [what God is doing] at this present time [RHQ]!
ὑποκριταί, τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς καὶ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οἴδατε δοκιμάζειν, τὸν ⸂δὲ καιρὸν τοῦτον πῶς ⸂οὐκ οἴδατε δοκιμάζειν;
57 (Each of you ought to determine now what is the right thing for you to do, [while you still have time to do that]!/Why cannot each of you determine what is the right [thing for you to do now while you still have time to do that]?) [RHQ]
Τί δὲ καὶ ἀφʼ ἑαυτῶν οὐ κρίνετε τὸ δίκαιον;
58 [If you do not do that, God will punish you] [MET]. [It will be like what happens when] someone takes one of you to court, saying that you [(sg)] have done something very bad. You should try to settle things with him while you are still on the way to the court. If he forces you to go to the judge, the judge will decide that you are guilty and put you into the hands of the court officer. Then that officer will put you in prison.
ὡς γὰρ ὑπάγεις μετὰ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου σου ἐπʼ ἄρχοντα, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ δὸς ἐργασίαν ἀπηλλάχθαι ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, μήποτε κατασύρῃ σε πρὸς τὸν κριτήν, καὶ ὁ κριτής σε ⸀παραδώσειτῷ πράκτορι, καὶ ὁ πράκτωρ σε ⸀βαλεῖεἰς φυλακήν.
59 I tell you that if you go to prison, you will never get out, [because you will never be able to] pay every bit [of what the judge says you owe] [MET]. [Similarly, you ought to settle accounts with God before you die, too].”
λέγω σοι, οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκεῖθεν ἕως ⸂καὶ τὸ ἔσχατον λεπτὸν ἀποδῷς.
