Luke 12
1
Now in the meantime, as an innumerable crowd had gathered together so that they were
stepping on one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of
the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2
For there is nothing covered that shall not be unveiled, and [nothing] secret that
shall not be made known.
3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what
you have spoken in the ear in behind closed doors shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
4
"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after
that have nothing further they can do.
5
But I will show you whom you should fear: fear Him who after He kills, has authority
to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten
before God.
7
But the very hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not fear therefore; you
are of more value than many sparrows.
8
"Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will
confess before the angels of God.
9
But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10
And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but
to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11
Now whenever they bring you to the synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not worry
about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
12
For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say."
13
Then someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me."
14
But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
15
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not
consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16
Then He told a parable to them, saying: "The field of a certain rich man produced
well.
17
And he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have nowhere to
gather my crops?'
18
So he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and I will build bigger [ones],
and there I will gather all my crops and my goods.
19
And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid away for many years; relax;
eat, drink, and be merry."'
20
But God said to him, ['You ]fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then
whose will those things be which you have prepared?'
21
So [is] he who accumulates treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
22
Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will wear.
23
Life is more than food, and the body is [more ]than clothing.
24
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storeroom nor
barn; and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than birds?
25
And which of you [by] worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
26
Therefore if you cannot do a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you,
not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these.
28
But if God so clothes the grass, although it is in the field today, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven, by how much rather [will He clothe] you, O you of little faith?
29
And do not seek what you may eat or what you may drink, and do not be anxious.
30
For all these things the nations of the world seek after, but your Father knows that
you need these things.
31
But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32
Do not fear, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give to you the
kingdom.
33
Sell your possessions and give alms; make for yourselves money bags which do not grow
old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not come near, nor does
a moth destroy.
34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36
and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from
the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks, immediately they may open
to him.
37
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly
I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them recline [to eat], and he will
come and serve them.
38
And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and find [them]
so, blessed are those servants.
39
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was
coming, he would have kept watch, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40
Therefore you also be ready, for in an hour that you think not, the Son of Man comes."
41
Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all [people]?"
42
And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his master will
make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
43
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44
Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over all his possessions.
45
But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins
to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,
46
the master of that servant will come on a day which he does not expect, and at an
hour which he does not know, and he will cut him in two and appoint him his portion
with the unbelievers.
47
And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not get ready or do according
to his will, shall be beaten [with] many [blows].
48
But he who did not know, yet did things worthy of [blows], shall be beaten [with]
few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be demanded; and to whom
much has been entrusted, of him they will ask much more.
49
"I came to cast fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
50
But I have a baptism to be baptized [with], and how distressed I am till it is completed!
51
Do you think that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather
division.
52
For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against
three.
53
Father will be divided against a son and a son against father, a mother against a
daughter and a daughter against a mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
54
Then He also said to the crowds, "Whenever you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately
you say, 'A rainstorm is coming'; and it happens thus.
55
And whenever you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and
it happens.
56
Hypocrites! You know [how] to discern the face of the earth and of the sky, but how
is it you do not discern this time?
57
"And why do you not judge what is right, even of yourselves?
58
When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make an effort to make a settlement
with him on the road, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to
the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.
59
I tell you, you shall by no means depart from there till you have paid the very last
mite."