Luke 11
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
The Lord’s Prayer
11 He was praying(A) in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.’(B)
2 He said to them, ‘Whenever you pray, say,(C)
Father,[a](D)
your name(E) be honoured as holy.(F)
Your kingdom come.[b](G)
3 Give us each day our daily bread.[c](H)
4 And forgive us our sins,(I)
for we ourselves also forgive everyone
in debt to us.[d](J)
And do not bring us into temptation.’[e](K)
Ask, Search, Knock
5 He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.” 7 Then he will answer from inside and say, “Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness,[g] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.(L)
9 ‘So(M) I say to you, ask,(N) and it will be given to you. Seek,(O) and you will find. Knock,(P) and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son[h] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil,(Q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father(R) give the Holy Spirit(S) to those who ask him? ’
A House Divided
14 Now(T) he was driving out a demon(U) that was mute.(V) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, ‘He drives out demons by Beelzebul,(W) the ruler(X) of the demons.’(Y) 16 And others, as a test,(Z) were demanding of him a sign(AA) from heaven.
17 Knowing their thoughts,(AB) he told them, ‘Every kingdom divided(AC) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan(AD) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom(AE) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons(AF) drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God,(AG) then the kingdom of God(AH) has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers(AI) him, he takes from him all his weapons[i](AJ) he trusted(AK) in, and divides up his plunder.(AL) 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me,(AM) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit’s Return
24 ‘When(AN) an unclean spirit(AO) comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,(AP) and not finding rest, it then[j] says, “I’ll go back to my house that I came from.” 25 Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits(AQ) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.’(AR)
True Blessedness
27 As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd(AS) raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you! ’(AT)
28 He said, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God(AU) and keep it.’(AV)
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds were increasing, he began saying, ‘This generation(AW) is an evil generation.(AX) It demands a sign,(AY) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.[k](AZ) 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man(BA) will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south(BB) will rise up at the judgement(BC) with the men of this generation and condemn(BD) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,(BE) and look – something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look – something greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 ‘No(BF) one lights a lamp(BG) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,[l] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body.(BH) When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,(BI) your body is also full of darkness. 35 Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.’
Religious Hypocrisy Denounced
37 As he was speaking, a Pharisee(BJ) asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing[m](BK) before dinner.(BL) 39 But the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed(BM) and evil.(BN) 40 Fools!(BO) Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? 41 But give from what is within to the poor,[n](BP) and then everything is clean(BQ) for you.
42 ‘But woe(BR) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth[o](BS) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass[p] justice(BT) and love for God.[q](BU) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.
43 ‘Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat(BV) in the synagogues(BW) and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 ‘Woe to you![r] You are like unmarked graves;(BX) the people who walk over them don’t know it.’
45 One of the experts in the law(BY) answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.’
46 Then he said, ‘Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens(BZ) that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.(CA)
47 ‘Woe to you! You build tombs[s] for the prophets,(CB) and your fathers killed(CC) them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses(CD) that you approve[t](CE) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.[u] 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God(CF) said, “I will send them prophets and apostles,(CG) and some of them they will kill and persecute,”(CH) 50 so that this generation(CI) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world[v](CJ) #– # 51 from the blood of Abel(CK) to the blood of Zechariah,(CL) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
‘Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.[w]
52 ‘Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge.(CM) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered(CN) those who were trying to go in.’
53 When he left there,[x] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose(CO) him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; 54 they were lying in wait(CP) for him to trap him in something he said.[y](CQ)
Footnotes
- 11:2 Other mss read Our Father in heaven
- 11:2 Other mss add Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
- 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
- 11:4 Or everyone who wrongs us
- 11:4 Other mss add But deliver us from the evil one
- 11:5 Lit Who of you
- 11:8 Or persistence
- 11:11 Other mss read son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he
- 11:22 Gk panoplia, the armour and weapons of a foot soldier; Eph 6:11,13
- 11:24 Other mss omit then
- 11:29 Other mss add the prophet
- 11:33 Other mss omit or under a basket
- 11:38 Lit he did not first wash
- 11:41 Or But donate from the heart as charity
- 11:42 Or a tithe
- 11:42 Or neglect
- 11:42 Lit the justice and the love of God
- 11:44 Other mss add scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
- 11:47 Or graves
- 11:48 Lit witnesses and approve
- 11:48 Other mss omit their monuments
- 11:50 Lit so that the blood of all . . . world may be required of this generation,
- 11:51 Lit you, it will be required of this generation
- 11:53 Other mss read And as he was saying these things to them
- 11:54 Other mss add so that they might bring charges against him
Luke 11
Modern English Version
Teaching About Prayer(A)
11 He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father, who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
5 Then He said to them, “Which of you has a friend and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine on his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you anything’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as much as 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 to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 “If a son asks for bread from any of you who is a father, will you give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will you offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Jesus and Beelzebub(B)
14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowd marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons through Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, testing Him, asked Him for a sign from heaven.
17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate. And a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons through Beelzebub. 19 Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are peacefully kept. 22 But when a stronger man than he attacks and overpowers him, he seizes all the armor in which the man trusted and divides his spoils.
23 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
The Return of the Unclean Spirit(C)
24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest. Finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house, from which I came.’ 25 When it comes, it finds it swept and furnished. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness
27 As He spoke these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the woman who gave You birth and nursed You.”
28 But He said, “Indeed, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
The Demand for a Sign(D)
29 When the crowds pressed upon Him, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now one greater than Jonah is here.
The Light of the Body(E)
33 “No one, when he has lit a candle, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a candlestick, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore lest the light which is in you is darkness. 36 If your whole body, then, is full of light, no part being dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the shining candle gives you light.”
The Denouncing of the Pharisees and Lawyers(F)
37 As He spoke, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish. But inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give alms from what is within. And then all things are clean to you.
42 “Woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb and pass over justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
43 “Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the prominent seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unseen graves, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”
45 One of the lawyers answered, “Teacher, by saying these things You insult us also.”
46 He said, “Woe to you also, you lawyers! For you load men with burdens difficult to carry, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 So you are witnesses and entirely approve the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the beginning of the world, may be required from this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required from this generation.
52 “Woe to you, lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 As He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to incite Him vehemently and angrily draw Him out concerning many things, 54 lying in wait for Him and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.