Luke 12:1-59
12 Amongst which things, when the ten thousands of the multitude were gathered together so that they were treading one upon another he began to be saying unto his disciples first—Be keeping yourselves free from the leaven of the Pharisees, the which is hypocrisy.
2 But nothing hath been covered up Which shall not be uncovered, And hidden Which shall not be made known.
3 Because as many things as in the darkness ye have said In the light shall be heard; And what to the ear ye spake in the chambers Shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends—Do not be put in fear of them who kill the body, And after these things have nothing more uncommon which they can do.
5 But I will suggest to you whom ye should fear—Fear him who after killing hath authority to cast into gehenna,—Yea I say unto you—Him fear ye.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? And not one from among them hath been forgotten before God.
7 But even the hairs of your head have all been numbered: Be not afraid: Many sparrows ye excel.
8 And I say unto you—Whosoever shall confess me before men Even the Son of Man will confess him before the messengers of God;
9 But he who denied me before men Shall be denied before the messengers of God.
10 And whosoever shall say a word against the Son of Man It shall be forgiven him; But unto him who against the Holy Spirit speaketh profanely It shall not be forgiven.
11 But whensoever they shall be bringing you in before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities Do not be anxious how [or what] ye shall answer or what ye shall say;
12 For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one from amongst the multitude said unto him—Teacher! bid my brother divide with me the inheritance.
14 But he said unto him—Man! who hath appointed me a judge or divider over you?
15 And he said unto them—Mind and be guarding yourselves from all covetousness; For not in one’s abundance doth his life spring out of his possessions.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying—A certain rich man’s estate bare well.
17 And he began to deliberate within himself, saying—What shall I do? because I have not where I can gather my fruits.
18 And he said—This will I do,—I will pull down my barns and greater ones build, and gather there all my wheat and good things;
19 and will say to my soul—Soul! thou hast many good things [lying by for many years: Be taking thy rest, eat, drink,] be making merry!
20 But God said unto him—Simple one! on this very night they are asking thy soul from thee; The things then which thou hast prepared whose shall they be?
21 [So is he that is laying up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.]
22 And he said unto his disciples—For this cause I say unto you,—Be not anxious for the life, what ye shall eat, Nor yet for [your] body, what ye shall put on;
23 For the life is more than the food, And the body than the clothing.
24 Consider well the ravens—That they sow not neither do they reap, Which have neither chamber nor barn,—And God feedeth them! By how much do ye excel the birds?
25 And who from among you though anxious can unto his stature add a cubit?
26 If then not even the least thing ye can do Why concerning the rest are ye anxious?
27 Consider well the lilies how they grow: They toil not neither do they spin, And yet I say unto you—Not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God thus adorneth the grass Which is in a field to-day, And to-morrow into an oven is cast How much rather you O little-of-faith?
29 Ye therefore be not seeking what ye shall eat and what ye shall drink, And be not held in suspense;
30 For after all these things do the nations of the world seek,—But your Father knoweth that ye need these things.
31 Notwithstanding be seeking his kingdom,—And these things shall be added unto you.
32 Be not afraid, the dear little flock! For your Father delighteth to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give alms, Make for yourselves purses that wax not old,—Treasure unfailing in the heavens, Where thief doth not draw near and moth doth not spoil.
34 For where your treasure is There will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded And your lamps burning,
36 And ye yourselves like unto men awaiting their own lord, once he may break up out of the marriage-feast,—That when he cometh and knocketh straightway they may open unto him.
37 Happy those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching! Verily I say unto you—He will gird himself and make them recline, and coming near will minister unto them.
38 And if in the second or if in the third watch he come and find thus Happy are they!
39 But of this be taking note—Had the householder known in what hour the thief was coming He would have watched, and not suffered his house to be digged through.
40 Ye therefore be getting ready, Because in what hour ye are not thinking The Son of Man cometh!
41 But Peter said—Lord! unto us this parable speakest thou? Or even unto all?
42 And the Lord said—Who then is the faithful steward, the prudent one, Whom the lord will appoint over his body of attendants To be giving in due season the measured allowance of wheat?
43 Happy that servant whom the lord when he cometh shall find doing thus!
44 Of a truth I say unto you—Over all his possessions will he appoint him.
45 But if that servant should say in his heart—My lord delayeth to come! And should begin to be striking the youths and the maidens,—To be eating also and drinking and making himself drunk
46 The lord of that servant will have come—On a day when he is not expecting, And in an hour when he is not taking note,—And will cut him asunder, And his part with the unfaithful will appoint.
47 And that servant who had come to know the will of his lord, And neither prepared nor wrought unto his will Shall be beaten with many stripes;
48 Whereas he who had not come to know, And did things worthy of stripes Shall be beaten with few stripes. And every one to whom was given much Much shall be sought from him; And he to whom they committed much For more than common will they ask him.
49 Fire came I to cast upon the earth,—And what can I wish if already it hath been kindled?
50 But an immersion have I to be immersed with, And how am I distressed until it be ended!
51 Suppose ye that peace I am come to give in the earth? Nay, I tell you, but rather division.
52 For there shall be henceforth five in one house divided,—Three against two and two against three:
53 There shall be divided—Father against son and son against father, Mother against daughter and daughter against the mother,—Mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.
54 And he went on to say even unto the multitudes—Whensoever ye see a cloud springing up from the west Straightway ye are saying—A thunderstorm is coming! And it happeneth thus.
55 And whensoever a south wind blowing Ye say—A scorching heat will there be! And it cometh to pass.
56 Hypocrites! the face of the earth and of the heaven ye know how to scan; But this season how know ye not to scan?
57 Why moreover even from yourselves judge ye not what is just?
58 For as thou art going along with thine adversary unto a ruler On the way take pains to get a release from him; Lest once he drag thee along unto the judge, And the judge deliver thee up to the punisher,—And the punisher cast thee into prison:
59 I tell thee—In nowise shalt thou come out from thence, Until even the last fraction thou pay!