Luke 12

1 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 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

3 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 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 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!

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

9 But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10 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 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16 Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

17 So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

18 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 crops and my goods.

19 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 very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

22 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 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24 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 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

26 So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 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 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 do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

30 For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.

32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 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 your heart will be also.

35 Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

36 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 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 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

40 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

41 “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42 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 whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45 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 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 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 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 have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, 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.”

54 Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising from the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.

56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why can’t you interpret the present time?

57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

58 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 will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

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 ye 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.›

3 ‹Therefore whatsoever 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.›

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.›

5 ‹But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.›

6 ‹Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?›

7 ‹But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value 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:›

9 ‹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.›

10 ‹And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.›

11 ‹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and› [unto] ‹magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:›

12 ‹For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.›

13 ¶ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, ‹Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?›

15 And he said unto them, ‹Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.›

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, ‹The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:›

17 ‹And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?›

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.›

19 ‹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,› [and] ‹be merry.›

20 ‹But God said unto him,› [Thou] ‹fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?›

21 ‹So› [is] ‹he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.›

22 ¶ And he said unto his disciples, ‹Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.›

23 ‹The life is more than meat, and the body› [is more] ‹than raiment.›

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?›

25 ‹And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?›

26 ‹If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for 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.›

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?›

29 ‹And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.›

30 ‹For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.›

31 ‹But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.›

32 ‹Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.›

33 ‹Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.›

34 ‹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.›

35 ‹Let your loins be girded about, and› [your] ‹lights burning;›

36 ‹And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.›

37 ‹Blessed› [are] ‹those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve 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.›

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.›

40 ‹Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.›

41 ¶ Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

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?›

43 ‹Blessed› [is] ‹that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.›

44 ‹Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.›

45 ‹But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;›

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 sunder, and will appoint him his portion 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].

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.›

49 ‹I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?›

50 ‹But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!›

51 ‹Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:›

52 ‹For from henceforth there shall be five in one house 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.›

54 ¶ And he said also to the people, ‹When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.›

55 ‹And when› [ye see] ‹the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.›

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?›

57 ‹Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?›

58 ‹When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate,› [as thou art] ‹in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.›

59 ‹I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.›

1 And the people ran, and gathered together many thousands, so that they stood one among another. Then began he, and said unto his disciples, First, beware of the leaven of the. Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 But there is nothing hid, that shall not be made manifest; neither is there anything secret, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye shall say in darkness shall be heard in light; and whatsoever ye shall speak in the ears of the chambers shall be preached upon the housetops.

4 But I say unto you, my friends: Fear not them which kill the body, and after that can do no more.

5 But I will shew you of whom ye shall be afraid: fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say unto you, of him be ye afraid.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Not one of them is yet forgotten in the sight of God.

7 And the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: for ye are better than many sparrows.

8 But I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man confess before the angels of God.

9 But whosoever shall deny me before men, the same shall be denied before the angels of GOD.

10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him.

11 And when they shall bring you into their synagogues, and before the authorities, and before the mighty, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say.

12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in that hour what ye ought to say.

13 And one of the people said unto him, Master, tell my brother that he may divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, Man, who hath made me a judge or a hereditary judge over you?

15 And said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness. For no man liveth by having much goods.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, There was a certain rich man, whose field was well borne.

17 And he thought upon himself, and said, What shall I do? I have not, as I gather my fruits.

18 And he said, This will I do; I will break down my barns, and build greater, and gather therein all that I have grown, and my goods.

19 And I will say unto my soul, Good soul, thou hast a great store for many years: now have thou rest, and drink, and be of good courage.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; and what shall it be that thou hast prepared?

21 So it is with him that layeth up for himself treasures, and is not rich in God.

22 And he said unto his disciples: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for your body, what ye shall do.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body than raiment.

24 Behold the ravens: they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they a cellar or a barn: yet God feedeth them. But how much better are ye than the birds!

25 Which of you, though he be anxious, is there among you that might add to his greatness in haste?

26 If then ye be not able to do the least thing, why take ye care of the other?

27 Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they work not, neither do they spin. But I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as one.

28 If the grass which is in the field to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, thus doth God clothe, how much more shall he clothe you, O ye of little faith!

29 Therefore ye also, ask not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, and go not up. here!

30 These things the heathen of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of them.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

32 Fear not, little flock: for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms. Make for yourselves coffers that do not grow old, a treasure that never diminishes in heaven, where no thief comes, and which moths do not devour.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

35 Let your loins be girded, and your lights be burning

36 And be ye like unto men that wait for their lord, when he shall depart from the marriage: that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may soon open unto him.

37 Blessed are the servants whom the LORD find watching when he comes. Verily I say unto you, He shall array himself, and shall set them at meat, and go before them, and minister unto them.

38 And if he come in the second watch, and in the third watch, and find it so, blessed are these servants.

39 But this ye ought to know: If a householder knew the hour of the thief's coming, he would keep watch and not let anyone break into his house.

40 Therefore be ye also ready. For the Son of man shall come in the hour when ye think not.

41 And Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or also unto all?

42 And the LORD said, What a great thing is a faithful and prudent steward, whom the LORD hath set over his servants, to give them their hire in due season.

43 Blessed is the servant whom his lord findeth doing so when he cometh.

44 Verily I say unto you, He shall set him over all his goods.

45 And if that servant say in his heart, My lord goeth away, and begineth to smite the menservants and maidservants: My lord draweth nigh, and begineth to smite the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and to drink, and to be drunken,

46 Then shall the lord of that servant come in the day that he knoweth not, and in the hour that he knoweth not, and shall destroy him, and shall give him his reward with the unbelievers.

47 But the servant that knoweth his master's will, and hath not prepared himself, neither done according to his will, shall suffer many stripes.

48 But he that knoweth not, having done that which is worthy of strokes, shall suffer few strokes. For to whom much is given, much shall be sought; and to whom much is commanded, much shall be required.

49 I am come to kindle a fire upon the earth: what would I rather, for it was already burning?

50 But I must first be baptized with a baptism: and how fearful am I until it be accomplished!

51 Think ye that I am come to bring peace on earth? I say no, but discord.

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the inlaw against the cord, and the cord against the inlaw.

54 And he said unto the people, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, then ye shall soon say, The rain cometh; and it shall come to pass.

55 And when ye see the south wind blowing, ye say, It shall be hot: and it is so.

56 Ye hypocrites, the form of the earth and of the heaven ye can test, but how do ye not test this time?

57 But why judge ye not yourselves what is right?

58 But if thou goest before the prince with thine adversary, be diligent in the way to be rid of him, lest he bring thee before the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the keeper of the stocks, and the keeper of the stocks cast thee into prison.

59 I tell thee, thou shalt not come out thence, till thou pay the very last shekel.