Luke 12
1 In the mean time, when there was gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they trampled one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod upon one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them: “Be on your guard against the leaven — that is, the hypocrisy — of the Pharisees.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known.
3 Therefore whatever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Hence all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed upon 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.
To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say to you, Fear him. (Geenna g1067)
I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into the Pit. Yes, I say, be afraid of 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 a penny? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice.
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
No, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value 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:
Every one, I tell you, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels;
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
but he, who disowns me before his fellow men, will be altogether disowned before God’s angels.
10 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.
Every one who shall say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for him who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
11 And when they bring you to the synagogues, and before magistrates, and powers, be not anxious how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Whenever they take you before the Synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defence will be, or what you will say;
12 For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.”
13 And one of the company said to him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
“Teacher,” a man in the crowd said to Jesus, “tell my brother to share the property with me.”
14 And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
But Jesus said to him: “Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And then he added: “Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man’s true Life does not depend on what he has.”
16 And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Then Jesus told them this parable — “There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no place where to store my fruits?
and he began to ask himself ‘What shall I do, for 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 store all my fruits and my goods.
This is what I will do,’ he said; ‘I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them;
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many goods laid up for many years; take thy ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’
20 But God said to him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
But God said to the man ‘Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared — who will have it?’
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.”
22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
And Jesus said to his disciples: “That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here — what you can get to eat; nor yet about your body — what you can get to wear.
23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than raiment.
For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Think of the ravens — they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add to his stature one cubit?
But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong his life a moment?
26 If ye then are not able to do that thing which is least, why are ye anxious for the rest?
And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things?
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.
Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not robed 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 ye of little faith?
If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
29 And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
And you — do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you.
No, seek his Kingdom, and these things shall be added for you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.
33 Sell what ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which become not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out — an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
35 Let your loins be girt, and your lamps burning;
Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight;
36 And ye yourselves like men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately.
and be like men who are waiting for their Master’s return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to eat, and will come forth and serve them.
Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon 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.
Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they.
39 And this know, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.
This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Do you also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.”
41 Then Peter said to him, Lord, speakest thou this parable to us, or even to all?
“Master,” said Peter, “are you telling this parable with reference to us or to every one?”
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?
“Who, then,” replied the Master, “is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, shall find doing this.
44 Truly I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property.
45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunk;
But should that servant say to himself ‘My master is a long time coming,’ and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh 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 come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy.
47 And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes;
48 But he that knew not, and committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, from him they will ask the more.
while one who does not know his master’s wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it is already kindled?
I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I constrained till it shall be accomplished!
There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Do you think that I am here to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division.
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they 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.
‘Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother to daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.’”
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, immediately ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And to the people Jesus said: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once ‘There is a storm coming,’ and come it does.
55 And when ye see the south wind blowing, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
And when you see that the wind is in the south, you say ‘It will be burning hot,’ and so it proves.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Why do not you yourselves decide what is right?
58 When thou goest with thy adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he drag thee before the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; for fear that he should drag you before the judge, then the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart from there, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last farthing.”
