³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.^(A) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.^{(B) 38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief^(C) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready,^(D) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord^(E) answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.