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28 For they are a nation lacking counsel,
among them there is no understanding.

29 “If they were wise,
    they would discern this,
they would understand their hereafter.
30 How can one chase a thousand
    and two put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them
    and Adonai had handed them over?
31 Surely their rock is not like our Rock,
as even our enemies judge.
32 For their vine is from the vine of Sodom
and from the terraces of Gomorrah.
Its grapes are grapes of poison—
    bitter clusters on it.
33 Venom of serpents is their wine—
poison of vipers so cruel.
34 Is it not stored up with Me,
sealed up in My treasuries?
35 Vengeance is Mine, and payback,[a]
for the time when their foot staggers.
Surely their day of disaster is near—
what is prepared rushes on them.
36 For Adonai will judge His people—
for His servants, He will relent
when He sees that strength[b] is gone
and no one is left, slave or free.
37 He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
the “rock” they took refuge in?
38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their libation?
Let them rise up and help you
and be a shelter over you!
39 See now that I, I am He!
There are no other gods beside Me.
I bring death and give life,
I have wounded but I will heal,[c]
and none can rescue from My hand.’

40 “Yes, I lift My hand up to heaven
and say, ‘As I Myself live forever,
41 when I sharpen My lightning sword
and My hand seizes it in judgment,
I will return vengeance on My foes,
and those who hate Me I will pay back.
42 I will make My arrows drunk from blood,
and My sword will devour flesh—
    the blood of the slain and the captive,
    the head of the leaders of the enemy.’
43 Make His people rejoice, O nations,[d]
for He will avenge the blood of His servants.[e]
He will return vengeance on His foes,
    and atone for the land of His people.”

44 Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people—he and Joshua son of Nun. 45 When Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Put in your hearts all the words that I call as witness against you today—that you may command your children to keep and do all the words of this Torah. 47 For it is not an empty thing for you, because it is your life! By this word you will prolong your days on the land, which you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.”

48 On that very day, Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 49 “Go up this mountain of the Avarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab facing Jericho, and see the land of Canaan, which I am giving to Bnei-Yisrael as a possession. 50 On the mountain that you are ascending, there be gathered to your people—as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people— 51 because you both broke faith with Me among Bnei-Yisrael at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of Bnei-Yisrael. 52 For you will see the land from afar, but you will not enter there, into the land that I am giving to Bnei-Yisrael.”

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35 “Have your belt strapped on and lamps burning. 36 Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.

37 “Happy are those slaves whose master finds them alert when he comes. Amen, I tell you, he will prepare himself and have them recline at table, and will come and serve them.

38 “And if he comes in the second or even the third watch[a] and finds them so, they will be happy. 39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect.”

41 Then Peter said, “Master, are You telling this parable for us, or for everyone?”

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their food portion at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whose master finds him so doing when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, his master will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45 “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the young slave boys and girls 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 does not know. And he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

47 “That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped. 48 But the one who did not know and did things worthy of a beating will be whipped lightly. From everyone given much, much will be required; and from the one for whom more is provided, all the more they will ask of him.

49 “I came to pour out fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50 But I have an immersion to endure,[b] and how distressed I am until it is finished!

51 “Do you suppose that I have come to bring shalom on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on there will be five in one house in opposition, 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.”[c]

Lessons for the Crowds

54 Then He also was saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, instantly you say, ‘A rainstorm is coming’—and so it is. 55 And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a scorcher’—and so it is. 56 Hypocrites! The surface of the earth and sky you know how to interpret yet you don’t know how to interpret this present time? 57 Why can’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For while you are going with your accuser to the authorities, make an effort to come to a settlement with him—so he doesn’t drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer of the court, and the officer of the court throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back the last little bit.”[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:38 2nd watch: 9 pm – 12am; 3rd watch: 12 am – 3 am.
  2. Luke 12:50 cf. Mk. 10:38.
  3. Luke 12:53 cf. Mic. 7:6-7(LXX).
  4. Luke 12:59 Lit. the last lepton, a small copper coin of little value.

56 Yet they tested and rebelled against El Elyon,
and did not keep His decrees.
57 Like their fathers they turned and were treacherous.
They turned aside like a faulty bow.
58 For they provoked Him
    with their high places,
so they aroused His jealousy
    with their graven images.
59 God heard and was furious,
and He greatly detested Israel.
60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent He pitched among men.
61 He gave up His strength into captivity,
and His glory into the adversary’s hand.
62 He gave His people over to the sword,
when He was angry at His inheritance.
63 Fire consumed their young men,
and their virgins had no wedding songs.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows could not weep.

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Diligence or Sloth

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the lazy will become forced labor.

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