Luke 16
Wycliffe Bible
16 He said also to his disciples, There was a rich man, that had a bailiff [There was some rich man, that had a farmer, or bailee]; and this was denounced to him, as he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said to him, What hear I this thing of thee? yield reckoning of thy bailiffship, for thou might not now be bailiff[a].
3 And the bailiff said within himself, What shall I do, for my lord taketh away from me the bailiffship? delve may I not, I shame to beg. [Forsooth the farmer said within himself, What shall I do, for my lord taketh away from me the farm? I may not delve, I am ashamed to beg.]
4 I know what I shall do, that when I am removed from the bailiffship [that when I shall be removed from the farm], they receive me into their houses.
5 Therefore when all the debtors of his lord were called together [And so all the debtors of his lord called together], he said to the first, How much owest thou to my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred barrows of oil. And he said to him, Take thy caution [Take thy caution, or obligation], and sit soon, and write fifty.
7 Afterward he said to another, And how much owest thou? Which answered, An hundred cors of wheat [Which said, An hundred measures of wheat]. And he said to him, Take thy letters, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord praised the bailiff of wickedness [And the lord praised the farmer of wickedness], for he had done prudently; for the sons of this world be more prudent in their generation than the sons of light.
9 And I say to you, make ye to you friends of the riches of wickedness [make to you friends of the riches of wickedness], that when ye shall fail, they receive you into everlasting tabernacles.
10 He that is true in the least thing, is true also in the more [He that is faithful in the least thing, is faithful also in the more]; and he that is wicked in a little thing, is wicked also in the more.
11 Therefore if ye were not true in the wicked thing of riches [Therefore if ye were not true in the wicked riches], who shall betake to you that that is very?
12 And if ye were not true in other men's thing, who shall give to you that that is yours?
13 No servant may serve to two lords; for either he shall hate the one, and love the other; either he shall draw to the one, and despise the other. Ye be not able to serve to God and to riches.[b]
14 But the Pharisees, that were covetous, heard all these things, and they scorned him.
15 And he said to them, Ye it be, that justify you before men; but God hath known your hearts [soothly God knoweth your hearts], for that that is high to men, is abomination before God.
16 The law and the prophets till to John; from that time the realm of God is evangelized [from that time the realm of God is preached], and each man doeth violence into it.
17 Forsooth it is lighter heaven and earth [for] to pass, than that one tittle fall from the law [than one tittle fall of the law].
18 Every man that forsaketh his wife, and weddeth another, doeth lechery [doeth adultery]; and he that weddeth the wife forsaken of the husband, doeth adultery.
19 There was a rich man [Some man was rich], and was clothed in purple, and white silk, and ate every day shiningly.
20 And there was a beggar [And there was some beggar], Lazarus by name, that lay at his gate full of boils,
21 and coveted to be fulfilled of the crumbs[c], that fell down from the rich man's board, and no man gave to him; but [and] hounds came, and licked his boils.
22 And it was done, that the beggar died, and was borne of angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man was dead also, and was buried in hell.
23 And he raised up his eyes, when he was in torments, and saw Abraham afar, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he dip the end of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 And Abraham said to him, Son, have mind, for thou hast received good things in thy life, and Lazarus also evil things; but he is now comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And in all these things a great dark place is stablished betwixt us and you; that they that will from hence pass to you, be not able[d], neither from thence pass over hither.
27 And he said, Then I pray thee, father, that thou send him into the house of my father.
28 For I have five brethren, that he witness to them, lest also they come into this place of torments.
29 And Abraham said to him [And Abraham saith to him], They have Moses and the prophets; hear they them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if any of dead men [shall] go to them, they shall do penance.
31 And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither if any of dead men [shall] rise again, they shall believe to him.
Footnotes
- Luke 16:2 yield reason of thy farm, for now thou shalt no more hold the farm
- Luke 16:13 No man servant may serve two lords; forsooth either he shall hate the one, and love the other; or he shall cleave to the one, and despise the other. Ye be not able to serve to God and riches.
- Luke 16:21 coveting to be fulfilled with the crumbs/coveting to be filled of the crumbs
- Luke 16:26 And in all these things a great dark place, either depth, is stablished between us and you; that they that will from hence pass to you, may not
Luke 16
New Matthew Bible
The parable of the wicked mammon. Not one tittle of God’s word shall perish. Of the rich man and poor Lazarus.
16 And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward that was accused of wasting his goods. 2 And he summoned him and said to him, How is it that I hear this of you? Give accounts of your stewardship, for you may no longer be steward.
3 The steward said within himself, What can I do? For my master will take away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg I am ashamed. 4 I know what to do, so that when I am put out of the stewardship, people may receive me into their houses.
5 Then he called all his master’s debtors, and said to the first, How much do you owe to my master? 6 And he said, A hundred tons of oil. And the steward said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty. 7 Then he said to another, What do you owe? And he said, A hundred quarters of wheat. The steward said to him, Take your bill and write eighty.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely. For among their own, the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say also to you, make friends for yourselves with the wicked mammon, so that when you depart this world, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He who is faithful in that which is least, the same is faithful in much. And he who is unfaithful in the least is unfaithful also in much. 11 So then, if you have not been faithful in the wicked mammon, who will believe you in that which is true? 12 And if you have not been faithful in another man’s business, who will give you your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will lean to the one and neglect the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.
14 All these things the Pharisees also heard, who were covetous; and they mocked him. 15 And he said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men, is abominable in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets reigned until the time of John; and since that time, the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone strives to go in.
17 Sooner can heaven and earth perish, than one tittle of the law can pass away. 18 Whosoever forsakes his wife and marries another, breaks matrimony, and every man who marries her that is divorced from her husband, commits adultery also.
19 There was a certain rich man that was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared deliciously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus who lay at his gate, full of sores, 21 longing to be relieved of hunger with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Nevertheless, the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; 23 and being in hell, in torments, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said to him, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your pleasure, and contrariwise Lazarus pain. Now therefore he is comforted, and you are punished. 26 Beyond all this, between all you and us there is a great space set, so that those who would desire to go from here to you cannot, and none may come from there to us.
27 Then he said, I pray you therefore, Father, send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brethren, to warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, Father Abraham, but if one came to them from the dead, they would repent.
31 He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from death again.
Luke 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 The parable of the steward accused to his master. 13 To serve two masters. 16 The law and the Prophets. 19 Of Dives and Lazarus.
1 And he said also unto his disciples, [a]There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, and he was accused unto him, that he wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship: for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my master taketh away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg I am ashamed.
4 I know what I will do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 Then called he unto him everyone of his master’s debtors, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my master?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take thy writing, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, How much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. Then he said to him, Take thy writing and write fourscore.
8 And the Lord commended [b]the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. Wherefore the [c]children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make you friends with the riches [d]of iniquity, that when ye shall want, they may receive you into everlasting [e]habitations.
10 [f]He that is faithful in the least, he is also faithful in much: and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.
11 If then ye have not been faithful in the wicked riches, who will trust you in the [g]true treasure?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in [h]another man’s goods, who shall give you that which is yours?
13 (A)[i]No servant can serve two masters: for either he shall hate the one, and love the other: or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and riches.
14 All these things heard the Pharisees also which were covetous, and they scoffed at him.
15 [j]Then he said unto them, Ye are they, which justify yourselves before men: but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God.
16 (B)[k]The Law and the Prophets endured until John: and since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17 (C)Now it is more easy that heaven and earth should pass away, than that one tittle of the Law should fall.
18 ¶ (D)Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, commiteth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her [l]that is put away from her husband, commiteth adultery.
19 ¶ [m]There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in [n]purple and fine linen, and fared well and delicately every day.
20 Also there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores,
21 And desired to be refreshed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table: yea, and the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it was so that the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23 And being in hell in torments, [o]he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 Then he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy pleasures, and likewise Lazarus pains: now therefore is he comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 Besides all this, between you and us there is a great gulf set, so that they which would go from hence to you, cannot: neither can they come from thence to us.
27 [p]Then he said, I pray thee therefore father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house,
28 (For I have five brethren) that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the Prophets: let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one came unto them from the dead, they will amend their lives.
31 Then he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead again.
Footnotes
- Luke 16:1 Seeing that men oftentimes purchase friendship to themselves, by other men’s costs, it is a shame for us, if with a free and liberal bestowing of the goods which the Lord hath given us to that purpose, we do not please him, nor procure the good will of our neighbors, seeing that by this only means, riches, which are oftentimes occasions of sin, are turned to another end and purpose.
- Luke 16:8 This parable doth not approve the steward’s naughty dealing, for it was every theft: but parables are set forth, to show a thing covertly, and as it were under a figure to represent the truth, though it agree not thoroughly with the matter itself: so that Christ meaneth by this parable to teach us, that worldly men are more heady in the affairs of this world, than the children of God are careful for everlasting life.
- Luke 16:8 Men that are given to this present life, contrary to whom the children of light are set: St. Paul calls those spiritual, and the other carnal.
- Luke 16:9 This is not spoken of goods that are evil gotten, for God will have our bountifulness to the poor, proceed and come from a good fountain: but he calleth those riches of iniquity, which men use naughtily.
- Luke 16:9 To wit, the poor Christians: for they are the inheritors of these Tabernacles, Theophylact.
- Luke 16:10 We ought to take heed that for abusing our earthly function and duty, we be not deprived of heavenly gifts: for how can they use spiritual gifts aright, who abuse worldly things?
- Luke 16:11 That is, heavenly and true riches: which are contrary to worldly and flitting substance.
- Luke 16:12 In worldly goods, which are called other men’s, because they are committed to our credit.
- Luke 16:13 No man can love God and riches together.
- Luke 16:15 Our sins are not hidden to God, although they be hidden to men, yea although they be hidden to them whose sins they are.
- Luke 16:16 The Pharisees despised the excellency of the new Covenant, in respect of the old, being ignorant of the perfect righteousness of the Law, and how false expounders they were of the Law, Christ declareth by the seventh Commandment.
- Luke 16:18 They that gather by this place, that a man cannot be married again after that he hath put away his wife for adultery, while she liveth, reason fondly: for Christ speaketh of those divorces which the Jews used, of which sort we cannot take the divorcement for adultery, for adulterers were put to death by the law.
- Luke 16:19 The end of the poverty and misery of the godly, shall be everlasting joy: as the end of riotousness and cruel pride of the rich shall be everlasting misery, without all hope of mercy.
- Luke 16:19 Very gorgeously and sumptuously, for purple garments were costly, and this fine linen which was a kind of linen that came out of Achaia, was as dear as gold.
- Luke 16:23 Heavenly and spiritual things are expressed, and set forth under colors and resemblances fit for our senses.
- Luke 16:27 Seeing that we have a most sure rule to live by, laid forth unto us in the word of God, rashly and vainly do men seek for other revelation.
Luke 16
Authorized (King James) Version
16 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.