Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware all of you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
In the meantime so many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each another. Jesus began speaking first to his disciples. “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees—hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
For there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed, nothing secret that won't be made known.
3 Therefore whatsoever all of you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which all of you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and whatever you whispered in private will be announced from the rooftops.
4 And I say unto 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, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, for once they've done that there's no more they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom all of you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Geenna g1067)
Let me make it clear whom you should be afraid of. You should be afraid of the one who after he has killed has the power to dispose of them in Gehenna. That's the one you should be afraid of. (Geenna g1067)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God doesn't forget a single one of them.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: all of you are of more value than many sparrows.
Even the hairs on your head have been counted. Don't be afraid—you're worth more than many sparrows!
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
I tell you the truth, those who declare they belong to me, the Son of man will also declare they belong to him before God's angels,
9 But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
but those who deny me will be denied before God's angels.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word (logos) against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit (pneuma) it shall not be forgiven.
Everyone who speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take all of you no thought how or what thing all of you shall answer, or what all of you shall say:
When you're brought to trial before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself, or what you should say.
12 For the Holy Spirit (pneuma) shall teach you in the same hour what all of you ought to say.
The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what's important to say.”
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
Someone in the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, please tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
“My friend,” Jesus replied, “Who appointed me as your judge to decide how your inheritance should be divided?” He told the people,
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
“Watch out, and beware of all greedy thoughts and actions, for a person's life isn't summed up by all the things they own.”
16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Then he told them a story as an illustration. “Once there was a rich man who owned land that was very productive.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
The man said to himself, ‘What shall I do? I've 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.
I know what I'll do,’ he decided. ‘I'll pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and then I'll be able to store all my crops and everything I own.
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'll tell myself: You have enough to live on for many years, so take life easy: eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’
20 But God said unto 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 foolish man! Your life will be demanded back this very night, and then who will get everything you've stored up?’
21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
This is what happens to people who hoard up wealth for themselves but are not rich as far as God is concerned.”
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what all of you shall eat; neither for the body, what all of you shall put on.
Jesus told his disciples, “That's why I tell you don't worry about life, about what to eat, or about what clothes you should wear.
23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than raiment.
Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing 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 all of you better than the fowls?
Look at the ravens. They don't sow or reap, they don't have any storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you're far more valuable than birds!
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it?
26 If all of you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take all of you thought for the rest?
If you can't do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don't work, and they don't spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O all of you of little faith?
So if God clothes the fields with such beautiful flowers, which are here today but gone tomorrow when they are burned in a fire to heat an oven, how much more will God clothe you, you who have so little trust!
29 And seek not all of you what all of you shall eat, or what all of you shall drink, neither be all of you of doubtful mind.
Don't be concerned about what you're going to eat or drink—don't worry about it.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that all of you have need of these things.
These are all things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them.
31 But rather seek all of you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Search for God's kingdom, and you'll be given these things as well.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Don't be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that all of 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 what you have, and give the money to the poor. Get yourselves purses that don't wear out: treasure in heaven that will never run out, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
For what you value the most shows who you really are.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit,
36 And all of you yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.
like servants waiting for their master when he returns from his wedding feast, prepared to open the door quickly for him when he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to food, and will come forth and serve them.
How good it will be for those servants that the master finds watching when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed, have them sit down for a meal, and will come and serve them himself!
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 at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and ready!
39 And this know, that if the goodman 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 remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into.
40 Be all of you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when all of you think not.
You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don't expect him.”
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speak you this parable unto us, or even to all?
“Is this story you're telling just for us, or for everyone?” Peter asked.
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 food in due season?
The Lord replied, “Who then is the trustworthy and wise manager, the one person in the household that the master puts in charge to share out their food at the right time?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.
It will be good for that servant when his master returns and finds him doing what he should.
44 Truthfully I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of everything.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the male servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
But what if the servant were to say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and then starts beating the other servants, both men and women, feasting and getting 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 two, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
That servant's master will return unexpectedly one day at a time he wasn't aware of, and will punish him severely, treating him as totally untrustworthy.
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 knew what his master wanted and yet didn't get ready or follow his instructions, will be beaten severely;
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto 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 servant who didn't know and did things deserving punishment will be beaten only lightly. From those who are given much, much will be required, and from those who are entrusted with more, 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 set the earth on fire, and I really wish it was already burning!
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 go through, and I'm in agony, wishing it was over!
51 Suppose all of you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, I bring division.
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
From now on, if there are five in a family, they will be divided against each other: 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 against each other—father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, 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 all of you see a cloud rise out of the west, immediately all of you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds. “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘a rain-shower's coming,’ and it happens.
55 And when all of you see the south wind blow, all of you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass.
When a south wind blows, you say ‘it's going to be hot,’ and it is.
56 All of you hypocrites, all of you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that all of you do not discern this time?
You hypocrites, how is it that you know how to rightly interpret the weather but you don't know how to interpret the present time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge all of you not what is right?
Why don't you think for yourselves and judge what's the right thing to do?
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.
As you go with your accuser to the magistrate, on the way you should be working on a settlement. Otherwise you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I tell you, you shall not depart thence, till you have paid the very last mite.
I tell you, you won't get out until you've paid the last penny.”
