Be in Readiness

35 [a](A)Be prepared, and keep your (B)lamps lit. 36 You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find (C)on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that (D)he will [b]prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. 38 (E)Whether he comes in the [c]second watch, or even in the [d]third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 (F)But [e]be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be (G)broken into. 40 (H)You too, be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think He will.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:35 Lit Have your waist belted
  2. Luke 12:37 Lit belt himself up
  3. Luke 12:38 I.e., 9 p.m. to midnight
  4. Luke 12:38 I.e., midnight to 3 a.m.
  5. Luke 12:39 Lit know

The Watchful Servants(A)

35 “You must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 36 Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. 37 How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you[a] with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. 38 How blessed they will be if their master[b] comes in the middle of the night or near dawn[c] and finds them awake![d] 39 But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and[e] would not have let his house be broken into. 40 So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:37 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  2. Luke 12:38 Lit. if he
  3. Luke 12:38 Lit. in the second or the third watch
  4. Luke 12:38 Lit. finds them so
  5. Luke 12:39 Other mss. lack would have watched and