Luke 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Lord’s Prayer
11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”(A) 2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father,[a] may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.[c]
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”[d](B)
Perseverance in Prayer
5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.(C)
9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.(D) 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for[e] a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? 13 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[f] to those who ask him!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed.(E) 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.(F) 17 But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.(G) 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?—for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists[g] cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.(H) 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(I)
The Return of the Unclean Spirit
24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 When it returns, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”(J)
True Blessedness
27 While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!”(K) 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”(L)
The Sign of Jonah
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.(M) 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed, something greater than Solomon is here!(N) 32 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and indeed, something greater than Jonah is here!(O)
The Light of the Body
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel basket;[h] rather, one puts it on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.(P) 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but if it is unhealthy, your body is full of darkness.(Q) 35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 But if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Experts in the Law
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him, so he went in and took his place at the table.(R) 38 The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner.(S) 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.(T) 40 You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 So give as alms those things that are within and then everything will be clean for you.(U)
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.(V) 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.(W) 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves on which people unknowingly walk.”(X)
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.” 46 And he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.(Y) 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.(Z) 48 So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 For this reason the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’(AA) 50 so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation.(AB) 52 Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”(AC)
53 When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees became hostile to him and began to interrogate him about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.(AD)
Notas al pie
- 11.2 Other ancient authorities read Our Father in heaven
- 11.2 A few ancient authorities read Your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. Other ancient authorities add Your will be done, on earth as in heaven
- 11.3 Or our bread for tomorrow
- 11.4 Or us into temptation. Other ancient authorities add but rescue us from the evil one (or from evil)
- 11.11 Other ancient authorities add bread, will give a stone? Or if your child asks for
- 11.13 Other ancient authorities read the Father give the Holy Spirit from heaven
- 11.19 Gk sons
- 11.33 Other ancient authorities lack or under a bushel basket
Luke 11
Lexham English Bible
How to Pray
11 And it happened that while he was in a certain place praying, when he stopped a certain one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say,
“Father,
may your name be treated as holy.
May your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
Ask, Seek, Knock
5 And he said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I do not have anything to set before him.’ 7 And that one will answer from inside and[a] say, ‘Do not cause me trouble! The door has already been shut and my children are with me in bed! I am not able to get up to give you anything.’[b] 8 I tell you, even if he does not give him anything[c] after he[d] gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence[e] he will get up and[f] give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 But what father from among you, if his[g] son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake? 12 Or also, if he will ask for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you, although you[h] are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
A House Divided Cannot Stand
14 And he was expelling a mute demon.[i] Now it happened that when[j] the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul the ruler of demons he expels demons!” 16 And others, in order to[k] test him,[l] were demanding from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household[m] falls. 18 So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I expel demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel them?[n] For this reason they will be your judges! 20 But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you! 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.[o] 22 But when a stronger man attacks him and[p] conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. 23 The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
24 “Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it.[q] It says,[r] ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ 25 And when it[s] arrives it finds the house[t] swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and[u] live there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first!”
27 Now it happened that as he said these things, a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and[v] said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it!”[w]
The Sign of Jonah
29 And as[x] the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation! It demands a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah! 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something[y] greater than Solomon is here! 32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, something[z] greater than Jonah is here!
Light and Darkness
33 “No one after[aa] lighting a lamp puts it[ab] in a cellar or under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body is dark also. 35 Therefore pay careful attention that the light in you is not darkness! 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, not having any part dark, it will be completely full of light, as when the lamp with its light gives light to you.”
Pharisees and Legal Experts Denounced
37 And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal[ac] with him, and he went in and[ad] reclined at table. 38 And the Pharisee, when he[ae] saw it,[af] was astonished that he did not first wash before the meal. 39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness. 40 Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you, Pharisees, because you pay a tenth of mint and rue and every garden herb, and neglect justice and love for God! But it was necessary to do these things without neglecting those things also. 43 Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces! 44 Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over them[ag] do not know it![ah]
45 And one of the legal experts answered and[ai] said to him, “Teacher, when you[aj] say these things, you insult us also!” 46 So he said, “Woe to you also, legal experts, because you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers! 47 Woe to you, because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them! 48 As a result you are witnesses, and you approve of the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them and you build their tombs![ak] 49 For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building.[al] Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation! 52 Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!”
53 And when[am] he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many things, 54 plotting to catch him with reference to something he might say.[an]
Notas al pie
- Luke 11:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“will answer”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:7 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:8 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“gets up”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 11:8 Or “shamelessness”; some translate as “persistence” based on the context, though this is not the normal meaning of the word
- Luke 11:8 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“will get up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:11 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 11:13 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as concessive
- Luke 11:14 Some manuscripts have “a demon, and it was mute”
- Luke 11:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came out”)
- Luke 11:16 Here “in order to” is supplied as a component of the participle (“test”) which is understood as purpose
- Luke 11:16 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:17 Literally “house against house”
- Luke 11:19 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:21 Literally “in peace”
- Luke 11:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“attacks”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:24 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:24 Some manuscripts have “Then it says”
- Luke 11:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrives”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 11:25 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:26 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go in”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“raised”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:28 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:29 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were increasing”)
- Luke 11:31 Here “something” is supplied in the translation because the adjective is neuter gender
- Luke 11:32 Here “something” is supplied in the translation because the adjective is neuter gender
- Luke 11:33 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“lighting”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 11:33 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:37 Literally “that he would have a meal”
- Luke 11:37 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went in”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:38 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 11:38 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:44 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:44 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 11:45 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 11:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“say”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 11:48 A large number of later manuscripts add the words “their tombs” here, with variations of wording; although the words are not likely to be original, it is necessary to supply them in keeping with English style
- Luke 11:51 Literally “the house,” here a reference to the temple
- Luke 11:53 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“departed”)
- Luke 11:54 Literally “from his mouth”
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