Font Size
Luke 12
Living Bible
Luke 12
Living Bible
12 Meanwhile the crowds grew until thousands upon thousands were milling about and crushing each other. He turned now to his disciples and warned them, “More than anything else, beware of these Pharisees and the way they pretend to be good when they aren’t. But such hypocrisy cannot be hidden forever. 2 It will become as evident as yeast in dough. 3 Whatever they[a] have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be broadcast from the housetops for all to hear!
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of these who want to murder you. They can only kill the body; they have no power over your souls. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear—fear God who has the power to kill and then cast into hell.
6 “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
8 “And I assure you of this: I, the Messiah,[b] will publicly honor you in the presence of God’s angels if you publicly acknowledge me here on earth as your Friend. 9 But I will deny before the angels those who deny me here among men. 10 (Yet those who speak against me[c] may be forgiven—while those who speak against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven.)
11 “And when you are brought to trial before these Jewish rulers and authorities in the synagogues, don’t be concerned about what to say in your defense, 12 for the Holy Spirit will give you the right words even as you are standing there.”
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.”
14 But Jesus replied, “Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? 15 Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”
16 Then he gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, 18 and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!”’[d]
20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?’
21 “Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”
22 Then turning to his disciples he said, “Don’t worry about whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. 23 For life consists of far more than food and clothes. 24 Look at the ravens—they don’t plant or harvest or have barns to store away their food, and yet they get along all right—for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
25 “And besides, what’s the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not! 26 And if worry can’t even do such little things as that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies! They don’t toil and spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not robed as well as they are. 28 And if God provides clothing for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you suppose that he will provide clothing for you, you doubters? 29 And don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink; don’t worry at all that God will provide it for you. 30 All mankind scratches for its daily bread, but your heavenly Father knows your needs. 31 He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
35 “Be prepared—all dressed and ready— 36 for your Lord’s return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter’s uniform and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight. But whenever he comes, there will be joy for his servants who are ready!
39 “Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return—just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming. 40 So be ready all the time. For I, the Messiah,[e] will come when least expected.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you talking just to us or to everyone?”
42-44 And the Lord replied, “I’m talking to any faithful, sensible man whose master gives him the responsibility of feeding the other servants. If his master returns and finds that he has done a good job, there will be a reward—his master will put him in charge of all he owns.
45 “But if the man begins to think, ‘My Lord won’t be back for a long time,’ and begins to whip the men and women he is supposed to protect, and to spend his time at drinking parties and in drunkenness— 46 well, his master will return without notice and remove him from his position of trust and assign him to the place of the unfaithful. 47 He will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty he refused to do it.
48 “But anyone who is not aware that he is doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.
49 “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and, oh, that my task were completed! 50 There is a terrible baptism ahead of me, and how I am pent up until it is accomplished!
51
54 Then he turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.
55 “When the south wind blows you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 56 Hypocrites! You interpret the sky well enough, but you refuse to notice the warnings all around you about the crisis ahead. 57 Why do you refuse to see for yourselves what is right?
58 “If you meet your accuser on the way to court, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, lest he sentence you to jail; 59 for if that happens, you won’t be free again until the last penny is paid in full.”
Footnotes
- Luke 12:3 they, literally, “you.”
- Luke 12:8 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Luke 12:10 me, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Luke 12:19 Wine, women, and song for you, literally, “Eat, drink, and be merry.”
- Luke 12:40 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Luke 12:53 the decision of an honored mother-in-law, implied by ancient custom.
Lucas 12
Nueva Versión Internacional
Lucas 12
Nueva Versión Internacional
Advertencias y estímulos(A)
12 Mientras tanto, se habían reunido millares de personas, tantas que se atropellaban unas a otras. Jesús comenzó a hablar, dirigiéndose primero a sus discípulos: «Cuídense de la levadura de los fariseos, o sea, de la hipocresía. 2 No hay nada encubierto que no llegue a revelarse ni nada escondido que no llegue a conocerse. 3 Así que todo lo que ustedes han dicho en la oscuridad se dará a conocer a plena luz y lo que han susurrado a puerta cerrada se proclamará desde las azoteas.
4 »A ustedes, mis amigos, les digo que no teman a los que matan el cuerpo, pero después no pueden hacer más. 5 Les voy a enseñar más bien a quién deben temer: teman al que, después de dar muerte, tiene poder para echarlos al infierno. Sí, les aseguro que a él deben temer. 6 ¿No se venden cinco gorriones por dos moneditas?[a] Sin embargo, Dios no se olvida de ninguno de ellos. 7 De hecho, él les tiene contados aun los cabellos de su cabeza. No tengan miedo, ustedes valen más que muchos gorriones.
8 »Les aseguro que a cualquiera que me confiese delante de los demás, también el Hijo del hombre lo confesará delante de los ángeles de Dios. 9 Pero al que me niega delante de los demás, se le negará delante de los ángeles de Dios. 10 Y todo el que pronuncie alguna palabra contra el Hijo del hombre será perdonado, pero el que blasfeme contra el Espíritu Santo no tendrá perdón.
11 »Cuando los lleven a comparecer ante las sinagogas, los gobernantes y las autoridades, no se preocupen de cómo van a defenderse o qué van a decir, 12 porque en ese momento el Espíritu Santo les enseñará lo que deben responder».
Parábola del rico insensato
13 Uno de entre la multitud le pidió:
—Maestro, dile a mi hermano que comparta la herencia conmigo.
14 —Hombre —respondió Jesús—, ¿quién me nombró a mí juez o árbitro entre ustedes?
15 »¡Tengan cuidado! —advirtió a la gente—. Absténganse de toda avaricia; la vida de una persona no depende de la abundancia de sus bienes».
16 Entonces les contó esta parábola:
—El terreno de un hombre rico produjo una buena cosecha. 17 Así que se puso a pensar: “¿Qué voy a hacer? No tengo dónde almacenar mi cosecha”. 18 Por fin dijo: “Ya sé lo que voy a hacer: derribaré mis graneros y construiré otros más grandes, donde pueda almacenar todo mi grano y mis bienes. 19 Y diré: Alma mía, ya tienes bastantes cosas buenas guardadas para muchos años. Descansa, come, bebe y goza de la vida”. 20 Pero Dios le dijo: “¡Necio! Esta misma noche te van a reclamar la vida. ¿Y quién se quedará con lo que has acumulado?”.
21 »Así sucede al que acumula riquezas para sí mismo, en vez de ser rico delante de Dios».
No se preocupen(B)
22 Luego dijo Jesús a sus discípulos:
—Por eso les digo: No se preocupen por su vida, qué comerán; ni por su cuerpo, cómo se vestirán. 23 La vida tiene más valor que la comida y el cuerpo más que la ropa. 24 Fíjense en los cuervos: no siembran ni cosechan, ni tienen almacén ni granero; sin embargo, Dios los alimenta. ¡Cuánto más valen ustedes que las aves! 25 ¿Quién de ustedes, por mucho que se preocupe, puede añadir una sola hora al curso de su vida?[b] 26 Ya que no pueden hacer algo tan insignificante, ¿por qué se preocupan por lo demás?
27 »Fíjense cómo crecen los lirios. No trabajan ni hilan; sin embargo, les digo que ni siquiera Salomón, con todo su esplendor, se vestía como uno de ellos. 28 Si así viste Dios a la hierba que hoy está en el campo y mañana es arrojada al horno, ¡cuánto más hará por ustedes, gente de poca fe! 29 Así que no se afanen por lo que han de comer o beber; dejen de atormentarse. 30 El mundo pagano anda tras todas estas cosas, pero su Padre sabe que ustedes las necesitan. 31 Por el contrario, busquen el reino de Dios y estas cosas les serán añadidas.
32 »No tengan miedo, mi rebaño pequeño, porque es la buena voluntad del Padre darles el reino. 33 Vendan sus bienes y den a los pobres. Provéanse de bolsas que no se desgasten; acumulen un tesoro inagotable en el cielo, donde no hay ladrón que aceche ni polilla que destruya. 34 Porque donde esté su tesoro, allí estará también su corazón.
La vigilancia(C)(D)
35 »Manténganse listos, con la ropa bien ajustada[c] y las lámparas encendidas. 36 Pórtense como siervos que esperan a que regrese su señor de un banquete de bodas, para abrirle la puerta tan pronto como él llegue y toque. 37 Dichosos los siervos a quienes su señor encuentre pendientes de su llegada. Les aseguro que se ajustará la ropa, hará que los siervos se sienten a la mesa y él mismo se pondrá a servirles. 38 Sí, dichosos aquellos siervos a quienes su señor encuentre preparados, aunque llegue a la medianoche o de madrugada.[d] 39 Pero entiendan esto: si un dueño de casa supiera a qué hora va a llegar el ladrón, no lo dejaría forzar la entrada. 40 Así mismo deben ustedes estar preparados, porque el Hijo del hombre vendrá cuando menos lo esperen.
41 —Señor —le preguntó Pedro—, ¿cuentas esta parábola para nosotros o para todos?
42 Respondió el Señor:
—¿Quién es el mayordomo fiel y prudente a quien su señor deja encargado de los siervos para repartirles la comida a su debido tiempo? 43 Dichoso el siervo cuando su señor, al regresar, lo encuentra cumpliendo con su deber. 44 Les aseguro que lo pondrá a cargo de todos sus bienes. 45 Pero ¿qué tal si ese siervo se pone a pensar: “Mi señor tarda en volver” y luego comienza a golpear a los criados y a las criadas, a comer, a beber y emborracharse? 46 El señor de ese siervo volverá el día en que el siervo menos lo espere y a la hora menos pensada. Lo castigará severamente y le impondrá la condena que reciben los incrédulos.[e]
47 »El siervo que conoce la voluntad de su señor y no se prepara para cumplirla recibirá muchos golpes. 48 En cambio, el que no la conoce y hace algo que merezca castigo recibirá pocos golpes. A todo el que se le ha dado mucho se le exigirá mucho; y al que se le ha confiado mucho se le pedirá aún más.
División en vez de paz(E)
49 »He venido a traer fuego a la tierra y ¡cómo quisiera que ya estuviera ardiendo! 50 Pero tengo que pasar por la prueba de un bautismo y ¡cuánta angustia siento hasta que se cumpla! 51 ¿Creen ustedes que vine a traer paz a la tierra? ¡Les digo que no, sino división! 52 De ahora en adelante estarán divididos cinco en una familia, tres contra dos y dos contra tres. 53 Se enfrentarán el padre contra su hijo y el hijo contra su padre, la madre contra su hija y la hija contra su madre, la suegra contra su nuera y la nuera contra su suegra.
Señales de los tiempos
54 Luego añadió Jesús, dirigiéndose a la multitud:
—Cuando ustedes ven que se levanta una nube en el occidente, enseguida dicen: “Va a llover” y así sucede. 55 Y cuando sopla el viento del sur, dicen: “Va a hacer calor” y así sucede. 56 ¡Hipócritas! Ustedes saben interpretar la apariencia de la tierra y del cielo. ¿Cómo es que no saben interpretar el tiempo actual?
57 »¿Por qué no juzgan por ustedes mismos lo que es justo? 58 Si tienes que ir con un adversario al magistrado, procura reconciliarte con él en el camino, no sea que te lleve por la fuerza ante el juez, el juez te entregue al alguacil y el alguacil te meta en la cárcel. 59 Te digo que no saldrás de allí hasta que pagues el último centavo.[f]
Footnotes
- 12:6 moneditas. Lit. asaria.
- 12:25 puede añadir … su vida. Alt. puede aumentar su estatura siquiera medio metro (lit. un codo).
- 12:35 Manténganse … ajustada. Lit. Tengan sus lomos ceñidos.
- 12:38 a la medianoche o de madrugada. Lit. en la segunda o tercera vigilia.
- 12:46 lo castigará … incrédulos. Lit. lo cortará en dos y fijará su porción con los incrédulos.
- 12:59 centavo. Lit. lepton.
Luke 12
New King James Version
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
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) 
Santa Biblia, NUEVA VERSIÓN INTERNACIONAL® NVI® © 1999, 2015, 2022 por Biblica, Inc.®, Inc.® Usado con permiso de Biblica, Inc.® Reservados todos los derechos en todo el mundo. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.