Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they stepped one on another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 And I say to you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
5 But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him. (Geenna g1067)
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Geenna g1067)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
9 But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say.
For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
13 And one of the company said to him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
15 And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
26 If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take you thought for the rest?
So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind.
And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things.
For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you.
But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
36 And you yourselves like to men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on 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.
Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.
39 And this know, that if the manager of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40 Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said to him, Lord, speak you this parable to us, or even to all?
“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.
Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
44 Of a truth I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
51 Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:
Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
52 For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the 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.
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.”
54 And he said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.
Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.
55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass.
And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.
56 You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?
57 Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?
And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.
Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.
59 I tell you, you shall not depart there, till you have paid the very last mite.
I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
