Luke 12
Common English Bible
Warnings to Jesus’ friends
12 When a crowd of thousands upon thousands had gathered so that they were crushing each other, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees—I mean, the mismatch between their hearts and lives. 2 Nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed, and nothing is secret that won’t be brought out into the open. 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and whatever you have whispered in the rooms deep inside the house will be announced from the rooftops.
4 “I tell you, my friends, don’t be terrified by those who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more. 5 I’ll show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after you have been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell. Indeed, I tell you, that’s the one you should fear. 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two small coins?[a] Yet not one of them is overlooked by God. 7 Even the hairs on your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
Acknowledging the Human One
8 “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before humans, the Human One[b] will acknowledge before God’s angels. 9 But the one who rejects me before others will be rejected before God’s angels. 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Human One[c] will be forgiven, but whoever insults the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what you should say. 12 The Holy Spirit will tell you at that very moment what you must say.”
Warning against greed
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me as judge or referee between you and your brother?”
15 Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “A certain rich man’s land produced a bountiful crop. 17 He said to himself, What will I do? I have no place to store my harvest! 18 Then he thought, Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. That’s where I’ll store all my grain and goods. 19 I’ll say to myself, You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God.”
Warning about worry
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 There is more to life than food and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither plant nor harvest, they have no silo or barn, yet God feeds them. You are worth so much more than birds! 25 Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?[d] 26 If you can’t do such a small thing, why worry about the rest? 27 Notice how the lilies grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. 28 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, how much more will God do for you, you people of weak faith! 29 Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. 30 All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys. 34 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
Warning about being prepared
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps lit. 36 Be like people waiting for their master to come home from a wedding celebration, who can immediately open the door for him when he arrives and knocks on the door. 37 Happy are those servants whom the master finds waiting up when he arrives. I assure you that, when he arrives, he will dress himself to serve, seat them at the table as honored guests, and wait on them. 38 Happy are those whom he finds alert, even if he comes at midnight or just before dawn.[e] 39 But know this, if the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he wouldn’t have allowed his home to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Human One[f] is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord replied, “Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? 43 Happy are the servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes. 44 I assure you that the master will put them in charge of all his possessions.
45 “But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk. 46 The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren’t expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but didn’t prepare for it or act on it will be beaten severely. 48 The one who didn’t know the master’s will but who did things deserving punishment will be beaten only a little. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
Conflicts brought by Jesus
49 “I came to cast fire upon the earth. How I wish that it was already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism I must experience. How I am distressed until it’s completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I have come instead to bring division. 52 From now on, a household of five will be divided—three against two and two against three. 53 Father will square off against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Learning and practicing good judgment
54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud forming in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain.’ And indeed it does. 55 And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘A heat wave is coming.’ And it does. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret conditions on earth and in the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? 57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going to court with your accuser, make your best effort to reach a settlement along the way. Otherwise, your accuser may bring you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you won’t get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”[g]
Footnotes
- Luke 12:6 Or two assaria—that is, 1/8 of a day’s wage
- Luke 12:8 Or Son of Man
- Luke 12:10 Or Son of Man
- Luke 12:25 Or eighteen inches to your height
- Luke 12:38 Or in the second or third watch
- Luke 12:40 Or Son of Man
- Luke 12:59 Or leptos (1/128 of a day’s wages)
Luke 12
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
12 In en the meantime hos, when many thousands myrias of the ho crowd ochlos had gathered episynagō · ho so hōste that they were trampling katapateō one allēlōn another , Jesus began archō to say legō ( to pros · ho his autos disciples mathētēs first prōton), “ Beware prosechō heautou of apo the ho yeast zymē of the ho Pharisees Pharisaios, which hostis is eimi hypocrisy hypokrisis. 2 Nothing oudeis · de is eimi covered synkalyptō up that hos will not ou be revealed apokalyptō, or kai hidden kryptos that hos will not ou be known ginōskō. 3 All that hosos you said legō in en the ho darkness skotia will be heard akouō in en the ho light phōs, and kai what hos · ho you said laleō in en · ho private tameion rooms will be proclaimed kēryssō on epi the ho housetops dōma.
4 “ I tell legō · de you hymeis, · ho my egō friends philos, do not mē fear phobeomai those ho who can kill apokteinō the ho body sōma, and kai after meta that houtos have echō nothing mē more perissoteros that tis they can do poieō. 5 I will show hypodeiknymi · de you hymeis whom tis you should fear phobeomai: Fear phobeomai the ho one who , after meta · ho he kills apokteinō, has echō authority exousia to throw emballō you into eis · ho hell geenna. Yes nai, I tell legō you hymeis, fear phobeomai this houtos one !
6 “ Are not ouchi five pente sparrows strouthion sold pōleō for two dyo pennies assarion? And kai not ou one heis of ek them autos is eimi forgotten epilanthanomai before enōpion · ho God theos. 7 In fact alla, even kai the ho hairs thrix of ho your hymeis head kephalē are all pas numbered arithmeō. Do not mē fear phobeomai; you are worth more diapherō than many polys sparrows strouthion.
8 “ I say legō · de to you hymeis, everyone pas who hos acknowledges homologeō en me egō before emprosthen · ho men anthrōpos, the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will also kai acknowledge homologeō en him autos before emprosthen the ho angels angelos of ho God theos; 9 but de the ho one who denies arneomai me egō before enōpion · ho men anthrōpos will be denied aparneomai before enōpion the ho angels angelos of ho God theos. 10 And kai everyone pas who hos speaks legō a word logos against eis the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will be forgiven aphiēmi, but de the ho one who blasphemes blasphēmeō against eis the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma will not ou be forgiven aphiēmi. 11 When hotan · de they bring eispherō you hymeis before epi the ho synagogues synagōgē, · kai the ho rulers archē, and kai the ho authorities exousia, do not mē worry merimnaō: How pōs or ē what tis words should you use in your defense apologeomai? or ē, What tis should you say legō? 12 For gar the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma will teach didaskō you hymeis in en that autos very ho hour hōra what hos it is necessary dei to say legō.”
13 Someone tis from ek the ho crowd ochlos said legō · de to him autos, “ Teacher didaskalos, tell legō · ho my egō brother adelphos to divide merizō the ho family inheritance klēronomia with meta me egō.” 14 But de he ho said legō to him autos, “ Friend anthrōpos, who tis appointed kathistēmi me egō a judge kritēs or ē arbitrator meristēs between epi you hymeis two?” 15 And de he said legō to pros them autos, “ Watch horaō out and kai be on guard phylassō against apo all pas types of greed pleonexia, because hoti one’ s autos life zōē does eimi not ou consist eimi in en the ho abundance perisseuō tis · ho of ek · ho his autos possessions hyparchō.” 16 Then de he told legō a parable parabolē to pros them autos, saying legō: “ The ho land chōra of a certain tis rich plousios man anthrōpos produced euphoreō a good crop . 17 And kai he thought dialogizomai to en himself heautou, saying legō, ‘ What tis shall I do poieō, for hoti I have echō no ou place pou to store synagō · ho my egō crops karpos?’ 18 Then kai he said legō, ‘ This houtos is what I will do poieō: I will tear kathaireō down my egō · ho barns apothēkē and kai I will build oikodomeō bigger megas ones ; and kai I will store synagō there ekei all pas · ho my grain sitos and kai · ho my egō goods agathos. 19 Then kai I will say legō to ho my egō soul psychē, “ Soul psychē, you have echō many polys good agathos things laid keimai up for eis many polys years etos; take anapauō your rest , eat esthiō, drink pinō, be merry euphrainō.”’ 20 But de God theos said legō to him autos, · ho ‘ You fool aphrōn! This houtos very ho night nyx · ho your sy soul psychē will be demanded apaiteō of apo you sy. And de what hos you have prepared hetoimazō for yourself , whose tis will it be eimi?’ 21 So houtōs it is with the ho one who stores thēsaurizō up treasures for himself heautou, but kai is plouteō not mē rich plouteō toward eis God theos.”
22 He said legō · de to pros · ho his autos disciples mathētēs, “ Therefore dia houtos I tell legō you hymeis, do not mē be anxious merimnaō about your ho life psychē, what tis you will eat esthiō, nor mēde about your ho body sōma, what tis you will wear endyō. 23 · ho For gar life psychē is eimi more polys than ho food trophē, and kai the ho body sōma more than ho clothing endyma. 24 Consider katanoeō the ho ravens korax: for hoti they do not ou sow speirō, neither oude do they reap therizō; for them hos there is eimi neither ou storehouse tameion nor oude granary apothēkē, yet kai · ho God theos feeds trephō them autos. Of how posos much more mallon value are diapherō you hymeis than the ho birds peteinon! 25 And de which tis of ek you hymeis by worrying merimnaō can dynamai add prostithēmi a single hour pēchus to epi · ho his autos span hēlikia of life ? 26 If ei then oun, you are dynamai unable oude to accomplish dynamai such an insignificant elachistos thing , why tis do you worry merimnaō about peri · ho other loipos things ? 27 Consider katanoeō the ho lilies krinon, how pōs they grow auxanō. They neither ou toil kopiaō nor oude spin nēthō, yet de I tell legō you hymeis, not oude even Solomon Solomōn in en all pas · ho his autos glory doxa clothed periballō himself like hōs one heis of these houtos. 28 If ei · de God theos so houtōs clothes amphiezō the ho grass chortos in en the field agros, which is alive eimi today sēmeron and kai tomorrow aurion is thrown ballō into eis the oven klibanos, · ho how posos much more mallon will he clothe you hymeis, you people of little faith oligopistos! 29 And kai you hymeis, do not mē have as an overriding concern zēteō what tis to eat esthiō and kai what tis to drink pinō; · kai do not mē let such things bother meteōrizomai you . 30 For gar all pas the ho nations ethnos of the ho world kosmos have these houtos things as their overriding concern epizēteō, and de your hymeis · ho Father patēr knows oida full well that hoti you need chrēzō them houtos. 31 Instead plēn, have zēteō · ho his autos kingdom basileia as your overriding concern, and kai these houtos things will be given prostithēmi to you hymeis in addition . 32 Do not mē be afraid phobeomai, · ho little mikros flock poimnion, because hoti your hymeis Father patēr has determined eudokeō in his pleasure · ho to give didōmi you hymeis the ho kingdom basileia. 33 Sell pōleō · ho your hymeis possessions hyparchō and kai give didōmi alms eleēmosynē. Make poieō for yourselves heautou moneybags ballantion that do not mē wear palaioō out , a treasure thēsauros unfailing anekleiptos in en · ho heaven ouranos, where hopou no ou thief kleptēs comes engizō near and oude no moth sēs destroys diaphtheirō. 34 For gar where hopou your hymeis treasure thēsauros is eimi, · ho there ekei will eimi your hymeis heart kardia be eimi as kai well . · ho
35 “ Let your hymeis waists osphys be eimi · ho girded perizōnnymi and kai your ho lamps lychnos burning kaiō; 36 and kai be like homoios men anthrōpos waiting prosdechomai for · ho their heautou master kyrios to pote come analyō home from ek the ho wedding gamos, so hina that when he comes erchomai and kai knocks krouō, they will open anoigō the door for him autos immediately eutheōs. 37 Fortunate makarios are · ho those ekeinos servants whom hos the ho master kyrios finds heuriskō awake grēgoreō when he comes erchomai. Truly amēn I say legō to you hymeis, he will dress perizōnnymi himself for service , · kai have them autos recline anaklinō at table , and kai will come parerchomai and serve diakoneō them autos. 38 If kan he comes erchomai in en the ho second deuteros or kan in en the ho third tritos watch phylakē and kai finds heuriskō it so houtōs, those ones ekeinos are eimi fortunate makarios.
39 “ Know ginōskō this houtos: · de that hoti if ei the ho master of the house oikodespotēs had known oida at what poios hour hōra the ho thief kleptēs would come erchomai, he would an not ou have allowed aphiēmi his autos house oikos be broken dioryssō into . · ho 40 So kai you hymeis too must be ginomai ready hetoimos, for hoti the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos is coming erchomai at hos an hour hōra when you do not ou expect dokeō him.”
41 Then de Peter Petros said legō, · ho “ Lord kyrios, are you telling legō this houtos parable parabolē to pros us hēmeis · ho or ē · kai to pros everyone pas?” 42 And kai the ho Lord kyrios said legō, “ Who tis, then ara, is eimi the ho faithful pistos and wise phronimos steward oikonomos, · ho whom hos the ho master kyrios will put kathistēmi in charge of epi · ho his autos servants therapeia, to ho give didōmi the ho food ration sitometrion at en the proper kairos time ? 43 Fortunate makarios is · ho that ekeinos servant whom hos his autos master kyrios, when he comes erchomai, · ho will find heuriskō doing poieō so houtōs. 44 I tell legō you hymeis the truth alēthōs, he will put kathistēmi him autos in charge kathistēmi of epi all pas · ho his autos possessions hyparchō. 45 But de if ean that ekeinos servant says legō · ho in en · ho his autos heart kardia, ‘ My egō master kyrios is delayed chronizō · ho in coming erchomai,’ and kai begins archō to beat typtō the ho male pais and kai · ho female paidiskē servants , and te to eat esthiō and kai drink pinō and kai get drunk methyskō; 46 then the ho master kyrios of ho that ekeinos servant will come hēkō on en a day hēmera when hos he does not ou expect prosdokaō him and kai at en an hour hōra that hos he does not ou know ginōskō about , and kai he will cut dichotomeō him autos in pieces and kai will assign tithēmi him · ho his autos place meros with meta the ho unfaithful apistos.
47 “ And de that ekeinos · ho servant who ho knew ginōskō · ho his autos master’ s kyrios will thelēma · ho but kai did not mē get ready hetoimazō or ē act poieō in accord with pros · ho his autos will thelēma, will be beaten derō with many polys blows . 48 But de the ho one who did not mē know ginōskō, and de did poieō things worthy axios of blows plēgē, will be beaten derō with few oligos blows . Everyone pas · de to whom hos much polys was given didōmi, much polys will be required zēteō from para him autos, and kai to whom hos much polys was handed paratithēmi over , they will ask aiteō more perissoteros of him autos.
49 “ I came erchomai to cast ballō fire pyr on epi the ho earth gē, and kai would thelō that tis it were already ēdē kindled anaptō! 50 I have echō a baptism baptisma · de to be baptized baptizō with , and kai how pōs distressed synechō I am until heōs hostis it is completed teleō! 51 Do you think dokeō that hoti I came paraginomai to give didōmi peace eirēnē in en the ho earth gē? No ouchi, I tell legō you hymeis, but alla rather ē division diamerismos! 52 For gar from apo now nyn on there will be eimi · ho five pente in en one heis household oikos divided diamerizō, three treis against epi two dyo and kai two dyo against epi three treis; 53 father patēr will be divided diamerizō against epi son hyios and kai son hyios against epi father patēr, mother mētēr against epi · ho daughter thugatēr and kai daughter thugatēr against epi · ho mother mētēr, mother-in-law penthera against epi · ho her autos daughter-in-law nymphē and kai daughter-in-law nymphē against epi · ho mother-in-law penthera.”
54 He also kai said legō · de to the ho crowds ochlos, “ When hotan you see a cloud nephelē rising anatellō in epi the west dysmē, you say legō at once eutheōs, ‘A rainstorm ombros is coming erchomai,’ and kai so houtōs it happens ginomai. 55 And kai when hotan there is a south notos wind blowing pneō, you say legō, ‘ There will be eimi hot kausōn weather ,’ and kai it happens ginomai. 56 Hypocrites hypokritēs! You know how oida to interpret dokimazō the ho appearance prosōpon of the ho earth gē and kai the ho sky ouranos. How pōs is it that you do oida not ou know how oida to interpret dokimazō · ho this houtos present time kairos? · de
57 “ Why tis, · de indeed kai, do you krinō not ou judge krinō for apo yourselves heautou what ho is right dikaios? 58 So hōs when you go hypagō with meta · ho your sy opponent antidikos before epi the magistrate archōn, make didōmi an effort ergasia to receive a settlement apallassō from apo him autos on en the ho way hodos; otherwise mēpote he will drag katasyrō you sy off to pros the ho judge kritēs, and kai the ho judge kritēs will hand you sy over paradidōmi to the ho bailiff praktōr, and kai the ho bailiff praktōr will throw ballō you sy into eis prison phylakē. 59 I say legō to you sy, you will certainly not ou get exerchomai out of there ekeithen until heōs · kai you have paid apodidōmi the ho last eschatos penny.”
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The Mounce Reverse Interlinear™ New Testament (MOUNCE)
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