Luke 12
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) 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(C) 3 What 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. 5 But 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) 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, 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) 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned(I) before the angels of God. 10 And 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) 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”(M)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then 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)
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He 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. 19 And 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)
Do Not Worry(S)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.(T) And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor(U) was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!(V) 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father(W) knows that you need them.(X) 31 But seek his kingdom,(Y) and these things will be given to you as well.(Z)
32 “Do not be afraid,(AA) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(AB) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(AC) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(AD) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(AE) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(AF)
Watchfulness(AG)(AH)
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(AI) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(AJ) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(AK) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(AL) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42 The Lord(AM) answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.(AN) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.(AO) 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.(AP) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Not Peace but Division(AQ)
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(AR) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(AS) 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”(AT)
Interpreting the Times
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(AU) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(AV)
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(AW) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(AX)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 Or speak to his disciples, saying: “First of all, be
- Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height
Luka 12
Albanian Bible
12 Ndërkaq u mblodh një turmë me mijëra, saqë shkelnin njeri tjetrin. Jezusi filloi t’u thotë dishepujve të vet: “Para së gjithash ruhuni nga majaja e farisenjve, që është hipokrizia.
2 Nuk ka asgjë të mbuluar që nuk do të zbulohet, as të fshehtë që nuk do të njihet.
3 Prandaj të gjitha ato që thatë në terr, do të dëgjohen në dritë; dhe ato që pëshpëritët në vesh ndër dhomat e brendshme, do të shpallen nga çatitë e shtëpive.”
4 Po ju them juve, o miq të mi, të mos keni frikë nga ata që vrasin trupin, por pas kësaj nuk mund të bëjnë asgjë tjetër.
5 Unë do t’ju tregoj prej kujt duhet të keni frikë: druani nga ai që, pasi ka vrarë, ka pushtet të të hedhë në Gehena; po, po ju them, nga ai të keni frikë.
6 A nuk shiten vallë pesë harabela për dy pare? E megjithëatë as edhe një prej tyre nuk harrohet përpara Perëndisë.
7 Madje, edhe flokët e kokës janë të gjitha të numëruara; prandaj mos kini frikë, ju vleni më tepër se shumë harabela.
8 Dhe unë po ju them: Kushdo që do të rrëfeje për mua përpara njerëzve, edhe Biri i njeriut do ta rrëfejë përpara engjëjve të Perëndisë.
9 Por ai që do të më mohojë përpara njerëzve, do të mohohet përpara engjëjve të Perëndisë.
10 Dhe kushdo që do të flasë kundër Birit të njeriut do të jetë i falur, por ai që do të blasfemojë kundër Frymës së Shenjtë, nuk do të jetë i falur.
11 Pastaj, kur do t’ju çojnë përpara sinagogave, gjykatësve dhe autoriteteve, mos u shqetësoni se si ose se çfarë do të thoni për t’u mbrojtur, ose për çfarë do t’ju duhet të thoni,
12 sepse Fryma e Shenjtë në po atë moment do t’ju mësojë se ç’duhet të thoni.”
13 Atëherë dikush nga turma i tha: “Mësues, i thuaj vëllait tim ta ndajë me mua trashëgiminë.”
14 Por ai u përgjigj: “O njeri, kush më vuri mua gjykatës ose ndarës përmbi ju?.”
15 Pastaj u tha atyre: “Kini kujdes dhe ruhuni nga kopracia, sepse jeta e njeriut nuk qëndron në mbushullinë e gjërave që zotëron.”
16 Dhe ai u tha atyre një shëmbëlltyrë: “Tokat e një pasaniku dhanë të korra të bollshme;
17 dhe ai arsyetonte me vete duke thënë: "Ç’të bëj, sepse nuk kam vend ku t’i shtie të korrat e mia?".
18 Dhe tha: "Këtë do të bëj: do të shemb hambarët e mia dhe do t’i bëj më të mëdhenj, ku do të shtie të gjitha të korrat dhe pasuritë e tjera,
19 dhe pastaj do t’i them shpirtit tim: Shpirt, ti ke pasuri të shumta të shtëna për shumë vjet; pusho, ha, pi dhe gëzo".
20 Por Perëndia i tha: "O i pamend, po atë natë shpirtin tënd do të ta kërkojnë dhe ato që përgatite të kujt do të jenë?".
21 Kështu i ndodh atij që grumbullon thesare për vete dhe nuk është i pasur ndaj Perëndisë.”
22 Pastaj u tha dishepujve të vet: “Prandaj po ju them: mos u shqetësoni për jetën tuaj se çfarë do të hani, as për trupin tuaj se çfarë do të vishni.
23 Jeta vlen më shumë se ushqimi dhe trupi më shumë se veshja.
24 Vini re korbat! Ata nuk mbjellin e nuk korrin, nuk kanë as qilar as hambar, e megjithatë Perëndia i ushqen; mirë, pra, ju vleni shumë më tepër se zogjtë.
25 Dhe cili nga ju me shqetësimin e tij mund ta zgjatë shtatin e vet qoftë edhe një kubit?
26 Atëherë, kur nuk jeni në gjendje të bëni as atë që është më e pakta, përse shqetësoheni për të tjerat?
27 Vini re si rriten zambakët: ata nuk punojnë dhe nuk tjerrin; megjithëatë unë po ju them se as Salomoni, në gjithë lavdinë e vet, nuk qe i veshur si një nga ata.
28 Atëherë, nëse Perëndia vesh në këtë mënyrë barin që sot është në fushë dhe nesër hidhet në furrë, aq më tepër do t’ ju veshë, o njerëz besimpakë?
29 Përveç kësaj mos kërkoni çfarë do të hani ose do të pini, dhe mos jini në merak,
30 sepse njerëzit e botës i kërkojnë të gjitha këto, por Ati juaj e di që ju keni nevojë për to.
31 Kërkoni më parë mbretërinë e Perëndisë dhe të gjitha këto do t’ju jepen si shtesë.
32 Mos ki frikë, o tufë e vogël, sepse Atit tuaj i pëlqeu t’ju japë mbretërinë.
33 Shitni pasurinë tuaj dhe jepni lëmoshë! Bëni për vete trasta që nuk vjetrohen, një thesar të pashtershëm në qiejt, ku vjedhësi nuk arrin dhe tenja nuk bren.
34 Sepse atje ku është thesari juaj, atje do të jetë edhe zemra juaj.”
35 Le të jenë ngjeshur ijët tuaja, dhe llambat ndezur.
36 Ngjajini atyre që presin zotërinë e tyre, kur kthehet nga dasma, për t’ia hapur derën sapo të vijë dhe të trokasë.
37 Lum ata shërbëtorë, që zotëria, kur të kthehet, do t’i gjejë zgjuar! Në të vërtetë po ju them se ai vetë do të ngjeshet dhe do t’i vendosë ata në tryezë, dhe ai vetë do t’u shërbejë.
38 Dhe, në se do të vijë në të dytën a në të tretën rojë të natës dhe t’i gjejë kështu, lum ata shërbëtorë.
39 Por ta dini këtë: se po ta dinte i zoti i shtëpisë në cilën orë i vjen vjedhësi, do të rrinte zgjuar dhe nuk do të linte t’i shpërthenin shtëpinë.
40 Edhe ju pra, jini gati, sepse Biri i njriut do të vijë në atë orë që nuk e mendoni.”
41 Dhe Pjetri i tha: “Zot, këtë shëmbëlltyrë po e thua vetëm për ne apo për të gjithë?.”
42 Dhe Zoti tha: “Kush është, pra, ai administrues besnik dhe i mençur, që do ta verë zotëria përmbi shërbëtorët e vet për t’u dhënë atyre racionin e ushqimeve në kohën e duhur?
43 Lum ai shërbëtor të cilin zotëria e tij, kur kthehet, e gjen se vepron kështu.
44 Në të vërtetë po ju them se ai do ta vërë mbi gjithë pasurinë e vet.
45 Por, nëse ai shërbëtor mendon në zemër të vet: "Zotëria im vonon të kthehet" dhe fillon t’i rrahë shërbëtorët dhe shërbëtoret, të hajë, të pijë dhe të dehet,
46 zotëria e atij shërbëtori do të vijë ditën kur nuk e pret, dhe në orën që ai nuk e di; do ta ndëshkojë rëndë dhe do t’i caktojë fatin me të pabesët.
47 Shërbëtori që e dinte vullnetin e zotërisë së tij dhe nuk u bë gati e nuk e kreu vullnetin e tij, do të rrihet shumë.
48 Por ai që nuk e dinte, po të bëjë gjëra që meritojnë të rrahura, do të rrihet më pak. Kujt iu dha shumë, do t’i kërkohet shumë; dhe kujt iu besua shumë, do t’i kërkohet më shumë.”
49 “Unë erdha të hedh zjarr mbi tokë dhe sa dëshiroj që ai të ishte tashmë i ndezur.
50 Tani unë kam një pagëzim me të cilën duhet të pagëzohem dhe jam në ankth deri sa të kryhet.
51 A kujtoni se erdha të sjell paqen mbi tokë? Jo, po ju them, por më shumë përçarjen;
52 sepse, tash e tutje, pesë veta në një shtëpi do të jenë të ndarë: tre kundër dyve dhe dy kundër treve.
53 Babai do të ndahet kundër të birit, dhe i biri kundër babait; nëna kundër së bijës dhe e bija kundër nënës; vjehrra kundër nuses së saj dhe nusja kundër vjehrrës së vet.”
54 Atëherë ai u tha akoma turmave: “Kur ju shihni një re që ngrihet nga perëndimi menjëherë thoni: "Do të vijë shiu," dhe ashtu ndodh;
55 përkundrazi, kur fryn juga, ju thoni: "Do të bëjë vapë," dhe ashtu ndodh.
56 Hipokritë! Ju dini të dalloni dukurinë e qiellit dhe të tokës, por vallë si nuk dini ta dalloni këtë kohë?
57 Dhe përse nuk gjykoni nga vetë ju ç’është e drejtë?
58 Kur ti shkon bashkë me kundërshtarin tënd te gjykatësi, bëj ç’është e mundur gjatë rrugës që të merresh vesh me të, që ai mos të të nxjerrë përpara gjykatësit dhe gjykatësi të të dorëzojë te roja dhe roja të të futë në burg.
59 Unë po të them se ti nuk do të dalësh prej andej, derisa të mos kesh paguar deri në qindarkën e fundit.”
Luke 12
New King James Version
Beware of Hypocrisy(A)
12 In (B)the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, (C)“Beware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 (D)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God(E)
4 (F)“And I say to you, (G)My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, (H)fear Him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two [b]copper coins? And (I)not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men(J)
8 (K)“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me (L)before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who (M)denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And (N)anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 (O)“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will (P)teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But He said to him, (Q)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, (R)“Take heed and beware of [c]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, (S)“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; (T)eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night (U)your soul will be required of you; (V)then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, (W)and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry(X)
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, (Y)do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and (Z)God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why [d]are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even (AA)Solomon in all his glory was not [e]arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of (AB)little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father (AC)knows that you need these things. 31 (AD)But seek [f]the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for (AE)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 (AF)Sell what you have and give (AG)alms; (AH)provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant(AI)
35 (AJ)“Let your waist be girded and (AK)your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 (AL)Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 (AM)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would [g]have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 (AN)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
42 And the Lord said, (AO)“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food [h]in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 (AP)Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 (AQ)But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a (AR)day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And (AS)that servant who (AT)knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 (AU)But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Christ Brings Division(AV)
49 (AW)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But (AX)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is (AY)accomplished! 51 (AZ)Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, (BA)but rather division. 52 (BB)For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 (BC)Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Discern the Time(BD)
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, (BE)“Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the (BF)south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern (BG)this time?
Make Peace with Your Adversary
57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 (BH)When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort (BI)along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 yeast
- Luke 12:6 Gr. assarion, a coin worth about 1⁄16 of a denarius
- Luke 12:15 NU all covetousness
- Luke 12:26 do you worry
- Luke 12:27 clothed
- Luke 12:31 NU His kingdom, and these things
- Luke 12:39 NU not have allowed
- Luke 12:42 at the right time
Luke 12
King James Version
12 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

