Luke 12
Christian Standard Bible
Beware of Religious Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling(A) on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,(B) “Be on your guard(C) against the leaven[a](D) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.(E) 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,(F) nothing hidden that won’t be made known.(G) 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms(H) will be proclaimed on the housetops.(I)
Fear God
4 “I say to you, my friends,(J) don’t fear(K) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear(L) him who has authority to throw people into hell(M) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?[b] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.(N) 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Acknowledging Christ
8 “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges(O) me before others, the Son of Man(P) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,(Q) 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.(R) 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,(S) but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit(T) will not be forgiven. 11 Whenever(U) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,(V) don’t worry(W) about how you should defend(X) yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”(Y)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher,(Z) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,”[c] he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard(AA) against all greed,(AB) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”(AC)
16 Then he told them a parable:(AD) “A rich(AE) man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;(AF) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’(AG)
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(AH) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’(AI)
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure(AJ) for himself and is not rich toward God.”(AK)
The Cure for Anxiety
22 Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,(AL) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.(AM) 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:(AN) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.(AO) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life span[d] by worrying?(AP) 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon(AQ) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?(AR) 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks(AS) all these things, and your Father(AT) knows that you need them.
31 “But seek his kingdom,(AU) and these things will be provided for you.(AV) 32 Don’t be afraid,(AW) little flock,(AX) because your Father delights(AY) to give you the kingdom.(AZ) 33 Sell(BA) your possessions and give to the poor.(BB) Make money-bags(BC) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure(BD) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(BE)
Ready for the Master’s Return
35 “Be ready for service[e] and have your lamps lit.(BF) 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master(BG) to return from the wedding banquet(BH) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.(BI) 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert(BJ) when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,[f] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.(BK) 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,[g] and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,(BL) he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready,(BM) because the Son of Man(BN) is coming at an hour you do not expect.”(BO)
Rewards and Punishment
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?”
42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager(BP) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food(BQ) at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’(BR) and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces[h] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.[i] 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it[j] will be severely beaten.(BS) 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved(BT) punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.[k](BU)
Not Peace but Division
49 “I came(BV) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo,(BW) and how it consumes(BX) me until it is finished!(BY) 51 Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth?(BZ) No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son,
son against father,
mother against daughter,
daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”[l](CA)
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds,(CB) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.(CC) 55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites!(CD) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this present time?(CE)
Settling Accounts
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?(CF) 58 As you are going with your adversary(CG) to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge,(CH) the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.(CI) 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.”[m](CJ)
Footnotes
- 12:1 Or yeast
- 12:6 Lit two assaria; a small copper coin
- 12:14 Lit Man
- 12:25 Or add a cubit to his height
- 12:35 Lit “Let your loins be girded; an idiom for tying up loose outer clothing in preparation for action; Ex 12:11
- 12:37 Lit will gird himself
- 12:38 Lit even in the second or third watch
- 12:46 Lit him in two
- 12:46 Or unbelievers
- 12:47 Lit or do toward his will,
- 12:48 Or much
- 12:53 Mc 7:6
- 12:59 Gk lepton, the smallest and least valuable copper coin in use
Luke 12
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
12 And when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known.
3 For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the housetops.
4 And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.
9 But he that shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.
11 And when they shall bring you into the synagogues, and to magistrates and powers, be not solicitous how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say;
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you must say.
13 And one of the multitude said to him: Master, speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 But he said to him: Man, who hath appointed me judge, or divider, over you?
15 And he said to them: Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life doth not consist in the abundance of things which he possesseth.
16 And he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits.
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 will build greater; and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me, and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer.
20 But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.
22 And he said to his disciples: Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on.
23 The life is more than the meat, and the body is more than the raiment.
24 Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they?
25 And which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
28 Now if God clothe in this manner the grass that is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.
31 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.
33 Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.
36 And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto 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 But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open.
40 Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.
41 And Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou speak this parable to us, or likewise to all?
42 And the Lord said: Who (thinkest thou) is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his family, to give them their measure of wheat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come, he shall find so doing.
44 Verily I say to you, he will set him over all that he possesseth.
45 But if that servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming; and shall begin to strike the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and to drink and be drunk:
46 The lord of that servant will come in the day that he hopeth not, and at the hour that he knoweth not, and shall separate him, and shall appoint him his portion with unbelievers.
47 And that servant who knew the will of his lord, and prepared not himself, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.
49 I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?
50 And I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized: and how am I straitened until it be accomplished?
51 Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.
52 For there shall be from henceforth 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 his 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 multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming: and so it happeneth:
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will be heat: and it cometh to pass.
56 You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time?
57 And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?
58 And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison.
59 I say to thee, thou shalt not go out thence, until thou pay the very last mite.
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