Luke 12
Names of God Bible
Jesus Speaks to His Disciples
12 Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Yeshua spoke to his disciples and said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I’m talking about their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.
4 “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.
6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two cents? God doesn’t forget any of them. 7 Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others. 9 But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me. 10 Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”
A Story about Material Possessions
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”
14 Yeshua said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide your inheritance?”
15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”
16 Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17 He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18 He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”
Stop Worrying(A)
22 Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 24 Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.
25 “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? 26 If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 28 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
29 “Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. 30 Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. 31 Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure. 34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
The Son of Man Will Return When You Least Expect Him
35 “Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning. 36 Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master’s knock when he returns from a wedding. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the table, and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning and finds them awake.
39 “Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house. 40 Be ready, because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, did you use this illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord asked, “Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time? 43 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. 44 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property. 45 On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk. 46 His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.
47 “The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t get ready to do it will receive a hard beating. 48 But the servant who didn’t know what his master wanted and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
Jesus Will Cause Conflict
49 “I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started! 50 I have a baptism to go through, and I will suffer until it is over.
51 “Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division. 52 From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three. 53 A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Use Good Judgment
54 Yeshua said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a rainstorm,’ and it happens. 55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and that’s what happens. 56 You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don’t know how to judge the time in which you’re living. 57 So why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison. 59 I can guarantee that you won’t get out until you pay every penny of your fine.”
路加福音 12
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
提防法利赛人的酵(A)
12 那时有成千上万的人聚在一起，甚至彼此践踏。耶稣就先对门徒说：“你们要提防法利赛人的酵，就是虚伪。 2 没有甚么掩盖的事不被揭露，也没有甚么隐藏的事不被人知道。 3 所以，你们在暗处所说的，必在明处被人听见；在内室附耳所谈的，必在房顶上宣扬出来。
应该怕谁(B)
4 “我的朋友，我告诉你们，那杀身体以后不能再作甚么的，不要怕他们。 5 我要指示你们当怕的是谁：当怕那杀身体以后，有权把人投入地狱里的；我告诉你们，应当怕他。 6 五只麻雀，不是卖两个大钱吗？但在 神面前，一只也不被忘记。 7 甚至你们的头发都一一数过了。不要怕，你们比许多麻雀贵重得多呢。
要在人面前承认主(C)
8 “我告诉你们，凡在人面前承认我的，人子在 神的使者面前也承认他； 9 在人面前不认我的，我在 神的使者面前也不认他。 10 凡说话得罪人子的，还可以赦免；但亵渎圣灵的，必不得赦免。 11 人把你们拉到会堂、官长和当权者的面前，你们不要思虑怎样申辩或说甚么话。 12 到了时候，圣灵必把当说的话教导你们。”
无知富翁的比喻
13 群众中有一个人对耶稣说：“老师，请吩咐我的兄弟和我分家业。” 14 耶稣说：“你这个人，谁立我作你们的审判官和分家业的人呢？” 15 于是他对众人说：“你们要谨慎，远离一切贪心，因为人的生命并不在于家道丰富。” 16 就对他们讲了一个比喻，说：“有一个富翁的田地丰收。 17 他自己心里说：‘怎么办呢？因为我没有足够的地方收藏出产了！’ 18 又说：‘我要这样办：我要拆掉这些仓房，建造更大的，好在那里收藏我的一切粮食和货物。 19 然后，我要对我的灵魂说：灵魂啊，你拥有许多好东西，足够多年享用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快乐吧！’ 20 神却对他说：‘无知的人哪，今天晚上，你的灵魂必被取去，你所预备的要归给谁呢？’ 21 凡为自己积财，在 神面前却不富足的，也是这样。”
不要忧虑，积财于天(D)
22 耶稣又对门徒说：“所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑吃甚么，也不要为身体忧虑穿甚么。 23 因为生命比饮食重要，身体比衣服重要。 24 你们想想乌鸦：牠们不种也不收，无仓又无库， 神尚且养活牠们；你们比飞鸟贵重得多了。 25 你们中间谁能用忧虑使自己的寿命延长一刻呢？ 26 既然连这极小的事都不能作，为甚么还忧虑其他的事呢？ 27 你们想想百合花，怎样不劳苦，也不纺织。但我告诉你们，就是所罗门最荣华的时候所穿的，也比不上这花中的一朵呢。 28 小信的人哪，田野的草，今天还在，明天就投进炉里， 神尚且这样给它装饰，何况你们呢？ 29 你们不要求吃甚么，喝甚么，也不要忧虑， 30 因为这一切都是世上不信的人所寻求的。你们的父原知道你们需要这一切。 31 你们只管求他的国，这些东西都必加给你们。 32 你们这小群，不要怕，因为你们的父乐意把国赐给你们。 33 当变卖你们所有的施舍给人，为自己制造不朽坏的钱囊，积蓄用不尽的财宝在天上，就是贼不能近、虫不能蛀的地方。 34 因为你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在哪里。
忠心的仆人有福了(E)
35 “你们的腰当束起来，灯也该点着， 36 像等候自己的主人从婚筵回来一样，好叫你们在主人回来敲门时，立刻给他开门。 37 主人来到了，看见仆人警醒，这些仆人就有福了。我实在告诉你们，主人必亲自束腰，招待他们吃饭，进前来侍候他们。 38 主人也许半夜之前，或天亮之前回来，看见他们这样，这些仆人就有福了。 39 你们都知道，家主若晓得窃贼甚么时候来，就不会让他摸进屋里。 40 你们也要准备妥当，因为在想不到的时候，人子就来了。”
41 彼得说：“主啊，你说这比喻，是为我们还是为众人呢？” 42 主说：“谁是那忠心精明的管家，被主人指派管理家里的仆人，按时分粮呢？ 43 主人来到的时候，看见他这样作，那仆人就有福了。 44 我实在告诉你们，主人要指派他管理主人的一切财产。 45 如果那仆人心里说：‘我的主人不会那么快回来’，就动手打其他的仆人使女，并且吃喝醉酒； 46 在他想不到的日子、不知道的时间，那仆人的主人要来，严厉地处罚他，使他和不信的人同在一起。 47 那仆人知道主人的意思，却不预备，也不照他的意思行，必多受责打； 48 但那不知道的，虽然作了该受责打的事，也必少受责打。多给谁就向谁多取，多托谁就向谁多要。
将引起纷争(F)
49 “我来要把火投在地上，如果烧了起来，那是我所愿意的。 50 我有应当受的洗，我是多么迫切地期待这事完成。 51 你们以为我来是要地上有和平吗？不是的，我告诉你们，是要有纷争。 52 从今以后，一家五口将起纷争，三个反对两个，两个反对三个。 53 他们将起纷争：
父亲反对儿子，
儿子反对父亲，
母亲反对女儿，
女儿反对母亲，
婆婆反对媳妇，
媳妇反对婆婆。”
当晓得分辨和判断(G)
54 耶稣又对众人说：“你们一看见西边有云彩升起来，就说：‘要下大雨’，果然这样； 55 起了南风，就说：‘天要热了’，也果然这样。 56 伪君子啊！你们知道分辨天地的气象，怎么不知道分辨这个时代呢？
57 “你们为甚么自己不能判断甚么是对的呢？ 58 你和你的对头去见官长，还在路上的时候，应当尽力向他求和，免得他把你拉到法官面前，法官把你交给差役，差役把你关在监里。 59 我告诉你，除非你还清最后的一个小钱，否则决不能从那里出来。”
Luke 12
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Beware of Religious Hypocrisy
12 In these circumstances,[a] 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 yeast[b](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 “And 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?[c] 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 men, the Son of Man(P) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,(Q) 9 but whoever denies Me before men 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,”[d] 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[e] 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 a cubit to his height[f] 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 keep striving 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[g] and have your lamps lit.(BF) 36 You must be like people waiting for their master(BG) to return[h] from the wedding banquet(BH) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.(BI) 37 Those slaves the master will find alert(BJ) when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready,[i] 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,[j] and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 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 that 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 That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. 44 I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’(BR) and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that slave’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[k] and assign him a place with the unbelievers.[l] 47 And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it[m] will be severely beaten.(BS) 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving(BT) of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.[n](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 be baptized with,(BW) and how it consumes(BX) Me until it is finished!(BY) 51 Do you think that I came here to give peace to 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.”(CA)[o]
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 a scorcher!’ 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 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 cent.”[p](CJ)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 Or Meanwhile, or At this time, or During this period
- Luke 12:1 Or leaven
- Luke 12:6 Lit two assaria; the assarion (sg) was a small copper coin
- Luke 12:14 Lit Man
- Luke 12:19 Lit say to my soul, “Soul, you
- Luke 12:25 Or add one moment to his life-span
- Luke 12:35 Lit Let your loins be girded; an idiom for tying up loose outer clothing in preparation for action; Ex 12:11
- Luke 12:36 Lit master, when he should return
- Luke 12:37 Lit will gird himself
- Luke 12:38 Lit even in the second or third watch
- Luke 12:46 Lit him in two
- Luke 12:46 Or unfaithful, or untrustworthy
- Luke 12:47 Lit or do toward his will
- Luke 12:48 Or much
- Luke 12:53 Mc 7:6
- Luke 12:59 Gk lepton, the smallest and least valuable copper coin in use
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.