Luke 12
New Testament for Everyone
Further warnings
12 Crowds were gathering in their thousands, so much so that they were trampling on each other. Jesus began to say to his disciples, “Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees—I mean, their hypocrisy. This is a matter of first importance.
2 “Nothing is concealed that won’t be uncovered; nothing is hidden that won’t be made known. 3 So whatever you say in the darkness will be heard in the light, and whatever you speak indoors into someone’s ear will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 “So, my friends, I have this to say to you: don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 5 I will show you who to fear: fear the one who starts by killing and then has the right to throw people into Gehenna. Yes, let me tell you, that’s the one to fear!
6 “How much do five sparrows cost? Two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten in God’s presence. 7 But the hairs of your head have all been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than lots of sparrows.
8 “Let me tell you: if anyone acknowledges me before others, the son of man will acknowledge that person before God’s angels. 9 But if anyone denies me before others, that person will be denied before God’s angels.
10 “Everyone who speaks a word against the son of man will have it forgiven; but the one who blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When they bring you before synagogues, rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to give an answer or what to say. 12 The holy spirit will teach you what to say at that very moment.”
The parable of the rich fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”
14 “Tell me, my good man,” replied Jesus, “who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?
15 “Watch out,” he said to them, “and beware of all greed! Your life doesn’t consist of the sum total of your possessions.”
16 He told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a fine harvest. 17 ‘What shall I do?’ he said to himself. ‘I don’t have enough room to store my crops!
18 “ ‘I know!’ he said. ‘I’ll pull down my barns—and I’ll build bigger ones! Then I’ll be able to store all the corn and all my belongings there. 19 And I shall say to my soul, Soul, you’ve got many good things stored up for many years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, have a good time!’
20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you! Now who’s going to have all the things you’ve got ready?’ 21 That’s how it is with someone who stores up things for himself and isn’t rich before God.
22 “So let me tell you this,” he said to the disciples. “Don’t be anxious about your life—what you should eat; or about your body—what you should wear. 23 Life is more than food! The body is more than clothing! 24 Think about the ravens: they don’t sow seed, they don’t gather harvests, they don’t have storehouses or barns; and God feeds them. How much more will he feed you! Think of the difference between yourselves and the birds!
25 “Which of you by being anxious can add a day to your lifetime? 26 So if you can’t even do a little thing like that, why worry about anything else? 27 Think about the lilies and the way they grow. They don’t work hard, they don’t weave cloth; but, let me tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed up like one of them. 28 So if that’s how God clothes the grass in the field—here today, into the fire tomorrow—how much more will he clothe you, you little-faith lot!
29 “So don’t you go hunting about for what to eat or what to drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 The nations of the world go searching for all that stuff, and your father knows you need it. 31 This is what you should search for: God’s kingdom! Then all the rest will be given you as well. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your father is delighted to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give alms. Make yourselves purses that don’t wear out, a treasure in heaven that lasts forever, where the thief doesn’t come near and the moth doesn’t destroy. 34 Yes: where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be too.”
Jesus’ call to watchfulness
35 “Make sure you’re dressed and ready with your lamps alight,” said Jesus. 36 “You need to be like people waiting for their master when he comes back from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they will be able to open the door for him at once. 37 A blessing on the servants whom the master finds awake when he comes! I’m telling you the truth: he will put on an apron and sit them down and come and wait on them. 38 A blessing on them if he comes in the second watch of the night, or even the third, and finds them like that!
39 “But you should know this: if the householder had known what time the thief was coming, he wouldn’t have let his house be broken into. 40 You too should be ready, because the son of man is coming at a time you don’t expect.”
41 “Master,” said Peter, “are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?”
42 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,” said Jesus, “whom the master will set over all his household, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 A blessing on the servant that his master, when he comes, finds doing just that! 44 I’m telling you truly, he will install him as manager over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time over coming back,’ and begins to beat the slaves and slave-girls, to eat and drink and get drunk— 46 then the master of that servant will come on a day he doesn’t expect him to, and at a moment he didn’t imagine, and he will cut him in two. He will give him the same place as the unbelievers.
47 “If a servant knew what the master wanted, and didn’t get ready, or do what was wanted, the punishment will be a severe beating. 48 If the servant didn’t know, and did what deserved a beating, it will be a light beating. Much will be required from one who is given much; if someone is entrusted with much, even more will be expected in return.”
Reading the signs of the times
49 “I came to throw fire upon the earth,” Jesus continued, “and I wish it were already alight! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and I am under huge pressure until it’s happened!
51 “Do you suppose I’ve come to give peace to the earth? No, let me tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on, you see, families will be split down the middle: three against two in a family of five, and two against three, 53 father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
54 “When you see a cloud rising in the west,” he said to the crowds, “you say at once, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and rain it does. 55 When you see the south wind getting up, you say, ‘It’s going to be very hot,’ and that’s what happens. 56 You impostors! You know how to work out what the earth and the sky are telling you; why can’t you work out what’s going on at this very moment?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what you ought to do? 58 When you go with your accuser before a magistrate, do your best to reach a settlement with him. Otherwise he may drag you in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the officer, and the officer will throw you into jail. 59 Let me tell you, you won’t get out from there until you have paid the very last coin.”
Lucas 12
La Biblia de las Américas
Advertencia contra la hipocresía
12 En estas circunstancias, cuando una multitud de miles y miles[a] se había reunido, tanto que se atropellaban[b] unos a otros, Jesús comenzó a decir primeramente a sus discípulos: Guardaos de la levadura de los fariseos(A), que es la hipocresía. 2 (B)Y nada hay encubierto que no haya de ser revelado, ni oculto que no haya de saberse. 3 Por lo cual, todo lo que habéis dicho en la oscuridad se oirá a la luz, y lo que habéis susurrado[c] en las habitaciones interiores, será proclamado desde las azoteas(C). 4 Y yo os digo, amigos míos(D): no temáis a los que matan el cuerpo, y después de esto no tienen nada más que puedan hacer. 5 Pero yo os mostraré a quién debéis temer: temed(E) al que, después de matar, tiene poder para arrojar al infierno[d](F); sí, os digo: a este, ¡temed! 6 ¿No se venden cinco pajarillos[e] por dos cuartos[f](G)? Y sin embargo, ni uno de ellos está olvidado ante Dios. 7 Es más, aun los cabellos de vuestra cabeza están todos contados(H). No temáis; vosotros valéis más que muchos pajarillos. 8 Y os digo, que a todo el que me[g] confiese delante de los hombres, el Hijo del Hombre le[h] confesará también ante los ángeles de Dios(I); 9 pero el que me niegue delante[i] de los hombres, será negado(J) delante[j] de los ángeles de Dios(K). 10 Y a todo el que diga una palabra contra el Hijo del Hombre, se le perdonará; pero al que blasfeme contra el Espíritu Santo, no se le perdonará(L). 11 Y cuando os lleven a las sinagogas(M) y ante los gobernantes y las autoridades, no os preocupéis(N) de cómo o de qué hablaréis en defensa propia, o qué vais a decir; 12 porque el Espíritu Santo en esa misma hora os enseñará lo que debéis decir(O).
Advertencia contra la avaricia
13 Uno de la multitud le dijo: Maestro, dile a mi hermano que divida la herencia conmigo. 14 Pero Él le dijo: ¡Hombre(P)! ¿Quién me ha puesto por juez o árbitro sobre vosotros? 15 Y les dijo: Estad atentos y guardaos de toda forma de avaricia; porque aun cuando alguien tenga abundancia, su vida no consiste en sus bienes(Q). 16 También les refirió una parábola, diciendo: La tierra de cierto hombre rico había producido mucho. 17 Y pensaba dentro de sí, diciendo: «¿Qué haré, ya que no tengo dónde almacenar mis cosechas?». 18 Entonces dijo: «Esto haré: derribaré mis graneros y edificaré otros más grandes, y allí almacenaré todo mi grano y mis bienes. 19 Y diré a mi alma: Alma, tienes muchos bienes depositados para muchos años; descansa, come, bebe, diviértete(R)». 20 Pero Dios le dijo: «¡Necio(S)! Esta misma noche te reclaman el alma(T); y ahora, ¿para quién será lo que has provisto(U)?». 21 Así es el que acumula tesoro para sí, y no es rico para con Dios(V).
Advertencia contra la ansiedad
22 Y dijo a sus discípulos: (W)Por eso os digo: No os preocupéis por vuestra vida[k], qué comeréis; ni por vuestro cuerpo, qué vestiréis. 23 Porque la vida es más que el alimento, y el cuerpo más que la ropa. 24 Considerad los cuervos, que ni siembran ni siegan; no tienen bodega ni granero(X), y sin embargo, Dios los alimenta(Y); ¡cuánto más valéis vosotros que las aves! 25 ¿Y quién de vosotros, por ansioso que esté, puede añadir una hora[l] al curso de su vida[m](Z)? 26 Si vosotros, pues, no podéis hacer algo tan pequeño, ¿por qué os preocupáis por lo demás? 27 Considerad los lirios, cómo crecen[n]; no trabajan ni hilan; pero os digo que ni Salomón en toda su gloria(AA) se vistió como uno de estos. 28 Y si Dios viste así la hierba del campo, que hoy es y mañana es echada al horno, ¡cuánto más hará por vosotros, hombres de poca fe(AB)! 29 Vosotros, pues, no busquéis qué habéis de comer, ni qué habéis de beber, y no estéis preocupados(AC). 30 Porque los pueblos del mundo buscan ansiosamente todas estas cosas; pero vuestro Padre sabe que necesitáis estas cosas. 31 Mas buscad su reino, y estas cosas os serán añadidas(AD). 32 No temas(AE), rebaño pequeño(AF), porque vuestro Padre ha decidido[o](AG) daros el reino. 33 Vended vuestras posesiones y dad limosnas; haceos bolsas que no se deterioran, un tesoro en los cielos(AH) que no se agota, donde no se acerca ningún ladrón ni la polilla destruye(AI). 34 Porque donde esté vuestro tesoro, allí también estará vuestro corazón(AJ).
Parábola de los siervos vigilantes
35 Estad siempre preparados[p](AK) y mantened las lámparas encendidas(AL), 36 y sed semejantes a hombres que esperan a su señor que regresa de las bodas, para abrirle tan pronto como llegue y llame. 37 Dichosos aquellos siervos a quienes el señor, al venir, halle velando(AM); en verdad os digo que se ceñirá para servir(AN), y los sentará[q] a la mesa, y acercándose, les servirá. 38 Y ya sea que venga en la segunda vigilia[r], o aun en la tercera[s](AO), y los halla así, dichosos son aquellos siervos. 39 (AP)Podéis estar seguros de[t] que si el dueño de la casa hubiera sabido a qué hora iba a venir el ladrón, no hubiera permitido que entrara en[u] su casa(AQ). 40 Vosotros también estad preparados, porque el Hijo del Hombre vendrá a la hora que no esperéis[v](AR).
Parábola del siervo fiel y del infiel
41 Entonces Pedro dijo: Señor, ¿nos dices esta parábola a nosotros, o también a todos los demás(AS)? 42 Y el Señor(AT) dijo: ¿(AU)Quién es, pues, el mayordomo fiel y prudente a quien su señor pondrá sobre sus siervos[w](AV) para que a su tiempo les dé sus raciones? 43 Dichoso aquel siervo(AW) a quien, cuando su señor venga, lo encuentre haciendo así. 44 De verdad os digo que lo pondrá sobre todos sus bienes. 45 Pero si aquel siervo dice en su corazón: «Mi señor tardará[x] en venir»; y empieza a golpear a los criados y a las criadas, y a comer, a beber y a embriagarse; 46 el señor de aquel siervo llegará un día, cuando él no lo espera y a una hora que no sabe, y lo azotará severamente[y], y le asignará un lugar[z] con los incrédulos. 47 Y aquel siervo que sabía la voluntad de su señor, y que no se preparó ni obró conforme a su voluntad, recibirá muchos azotes(AX); 48 pero el que no la sabía(AY), e hizo cosas que merecían castigo[aa], será azotado poco. A todo el que se le haya dado mucho, mucho se demandará de él; y al que mucho le han confiado, más le exigirán(AZ).
Jesús, causa de división
49 Yo he venido[ab] para echar fuego sobre la tierra; y ¡cómo quisiera que ya estuviera[ac] encendido! 50 Pero de un bautismo(BA) tengo que ser bautizado, y ¡cómo me angustio hasta que se cumpla! 51 ¿(BB)Pensáis que vine a dar paz en la tierra? No, os digo, sino más bien división. 52 Porque desde ahora en adelante, cinco en una casa estarán divididos; tres contra dos y dos contra tres. 53 Estarán divididos el padre contra el hijo y el hijo contra el padre; la madre contra la hija y la hija contra la madre; la suegra contra su nuera y la nuera contra su suegra(BC).
Cómo discernir el tiempo
54 Decía también a las multitudes: Cuando veis una nube que se levanta en el poniente, al instante decís: «Viene un aguacero», y así sucede(BD). 55 Y cuando sopla el viento del sur, decís: «Va a hacer calor(BE)», y así pasa. 56 ¡Hipócritas! Sabéis examinar el aspecto de la tierra y del cielo; entonces, ¿por qué[ad] no examináis este tiempo presente(BF)? 57 ¿Y por qué no juzgáis por vosotros mismos(BG) lo que es justo? 58 (BH)Porque mientras vas con tu adversario para comparecer ante el magistrado, procura en el camino arreglarte con él[ae], no sea que te arrastre ante el juez, y el juez te entregue al alguacil, y el alguacil te eche en la cárcel. 59 Te digo que no saldrás de allí hasta que hayas pagado aun el último centavo[af](BI).
Footnotes
- Lucas 12:1 Gr., miríadas
- Lucas 12:1 Lit., pisoteaban
- Lucas 12:3 Lit., hablado al oído
- Lucas 12:5 Gr., guéenna
- Lucas 12:6 O, gorriones
- Lucas 12:6 Gr., assaria; un cuarto equivale aprox. a 1/16 denario
- Lucas 12:8 Lit., por mí
- Lucas 12:8 Lit., por él
- Lucas 12:9 O, en presencia
- Lucas 12:9 O, en presencia
- Lucas 12:22 O, alma
- Lucas 12:25 Lit., un codo
- Lucas 12:25 Lit., a su estatura
- Lucas 12:27 Algunos mss. no incluyen: crecen
- Lucas 12:32 Lit., se ha complacido
- Lucas 12:35 Lit., Estén ceñidos vuestros lomos
- Lucas 12:37 Lit., recostará
- Lucas 12:38 I.e., desde las nueve de la noche hasta la medianoche
- Lucas 12:38 I.e., desde la medianoche hasta las tres de la mañana
- Lucas 12:39 Lit., Y sabed esto
- Lucas 12:39 Lit., que horadara
- Lucas 12:40 Lit., penséis
- Lucas 12:42 Lit., su servicio
- Lucas 12:45 Lit., tarda
- Lucas 12:46 Lit., lo cortará en dos
- Lucas 12:46 Lit., su parte
- Lucas 12:48 Lit., golpes
- Lucas 12:49 O, Vine
- Lucas 12:49 Lit., ¿qué quiero si ya está
- Lucas 12:56 Lit., cómo
- Lucas 12:58 Lit., ser absuelto por él
- Lucas 12:59 O, la última blanca; gr., lepton, la moneda de menos valor (1/128 de un denario)
Luke 12
New International Version
Warnings and Encouragements(A)
12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.(B) 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(C) 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends,(D) do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.(E) 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(F) Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(G)
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.(H) 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned(I) before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man(J) will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.(K)
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,(L) 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”(M)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”(N)
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(O) This very night your life will be demanded from you.(P) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(Q)
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”(R)
Do Not Worry(S)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.(T) And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor(U) was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!(V) 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father(W) knows that you need them.(X) 31 But seek his kingdom,(Y) and these things will be given to you as well.(Z)
32 “Do not be afraid,(AA) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(AB) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(AC) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(AD) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(AE) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(AF)
Watchfulness(AG)(AH)
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(AI) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(AJ) 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(AK) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(AL) 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(AM) 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. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.(AN) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.(AO) 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.(AP) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Not Peace but Division(AQ)
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(AR) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(AS) 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”(AT)
Interpreting the Times
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(AU) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(AV)
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(AW) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(AX)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 Or speak to his disciples, saying: “First of all, be
- Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height
Luke 12
King James Version
12 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 is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 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 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 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.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 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 he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 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 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 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 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 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 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 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 unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 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 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 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 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 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 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 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 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 where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 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 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 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 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 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 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 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 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 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 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 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 am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 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 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 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 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 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 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 thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.


