Luke 12:1-21

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) ²There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.^(C) ³What 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. ⁵But 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) ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷Indeed, 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) ⁹But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned^(I) before the angels of God. ¹⁰And 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) ¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”^(M)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵Then 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)

¹⁶And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷He 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. ¹⁹And 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)

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Footnotes

Luke 12:1 Or speak to his disciples, saying: “First of all, be

Psalm 70-71

New International Version

Psalm 70^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

¹Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.^(B)

²May those who want to take my life^(C)
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.^(D)
³May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”^(E)
    turn back because of their shame.
⁴But may all who seek you^(F)
    rejoice and be glad^(G) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”^(H)

⁵But as for me, I am poor and needy;^(I)
come quickly to me,^(J) O God.
You are my help^(K) and my deliverer;^(L)
Lord, do not delay.^(M)

Psalm 71^(N)

¹In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;^(O)
    let me never be put to shame.^(P)
²In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear^(Q) to me and save me.
³Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.^(R)
⁴Deliver^(S) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,^(T)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.^(U)

⁵For you have been my hope,^(V) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence^(W) since my youth.
⁶From birth^(X) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.^(Y)
    I will ever praise^(Z) you.
⁷I have become a sign^(AA) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.^(AB)
⁸My mouth^(AC) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor^(AD) all day long.

⁹Do not cast^(AE) me away when I am old;^(AF)
    do not forsake^(AG) me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰For my enemies^(AH) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill^(AI) me conspire^(AJ) together.
¹¹They say, “God has forsaken^(AK) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue^(AL) him.”
¹²Do not be far^(AM) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help^(AN) me.
¹³May my accusers^(AO) perish in shame;^(AP)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.^(AQ)

¹⁴As for me, I will always have hope;^(AR)
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵My mouth will tell^(AS) of your righteous deeds,^(AT)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,^(AU) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷Since my youth, God, you have taught^(AV) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.^(AW)
¹⁸Even when I am old and gray,^(AX)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power^(AY) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.^(AZ)

¹⁹Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,^(BA)
    you who have done great things.^(BB)
    Who is like you, God?^(BC)
²⁰Though you have made me see troubles,^(BD)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore^(BE) my life again;
from the depths of the earth^(BF)
    you will again bring me up.
²¹You will increase my honor^(BG)
    and comfort^(BH) me once more.

²²I will praise you with the harp^(BI)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,^(BJ)
    Holy One of Israel.^(BK)
²³My lips will shout for joy^(BL)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.^(BM)
²⁴My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,^(BN)
for those who wanted to harm me^(BO)
    have been put to shame and confusion.^(BP)