Luke 12:13-21

New Testament for Everyone

The parable of the rich fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”

¹⁴ “Tell me, my good man,” replied Jesus, “who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?

¹⁵ “Watch out,” he said to them, “and beware of all greed! Your life doesn’t consist of the sum total of your possessions.”

¹⁶ He told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a fine harvest. ¹⁷ ‘What shall I do?’ he said to himself. ‘I don’t have enough room to store my crops!

¹⁸ “ ‘I know!’ he said. ‘I’ll pull down my barns—and I’ll build bigger ones! Then I’ll be able to store all the corn and all my belongings there. ¹⁹ And I shall say to my soul, Soul, you’ve got many good things stored up for many years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, have a good time!’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you! Now who’s going to have all the things you’ve got ready?’ ²¹ That’s how it is with someone who stores up things for himself and isn’t rich before God.