Luke 12

 

1 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable crowd of people, so (crowded) as to trample one upon another, He began to say to His disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, (who burden you to perform things which they themselves are not able to do) which is hypocrisy.

 

2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hidden, that shall not be known.

 

3 Therefore, whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have whispered in secret in closets shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

 

4 And I say to you, My friends (who are persuaded that I care for your lives), Do not be afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more, they can do (to snatch you from My Hands).

 

5 But I will forewarn you (what shall be revealed) that which one should fear, fear that which, after killing the body, has the power (in those who denied Me, and trust in their own works instead) to (grip their heart with fear and) cast (them) into Gehenna fire, yes, certainly I say fear (that).

 

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: (you who have trusted your life to the Father’s care) you are of more value than many sparrows.

 

8 Also, I say to you (with certainty), Whoever shall agree with Me (that I am the Word of life sent from heaven) before men, also shall the Son of man agree with him (assuring his heart of the same reward) before the angels of God (in heaven):

 

9 But he that denies (rejecting) Me (as the way unto life) before men shall reject (Him, drawing back in fear and shame) before the angels of God (in heaven).

 

10 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be sent away from him (at the cross, along with the death that reigned over him): but to him who blasphemes (by rejecting and refusing to acknowledge the only inherently good and endless life from God, being firmly) against (union with) the Holy Ghost, his death cannot be sent away from him (for he is rejecting the only union that can prevent him from perishing in death).

 

11 And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:

 

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

 

13 And one of the followers said to Him, Master, speak to my brother, so that he divides the inheritance with me.

 

14 And He said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

 

15 And He said to them, Beware and guard yourself from covetousness (the greedy desire for more): for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

 

16 And He spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly:

 

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no (more) room to store my fruits?

 

18 And he said, This (is what) I will do: I will take down my barns and build larger (barns); and there will I store all my fruits and my goods.

 

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have stored a lot of goods for many years; take your rest, eat, drink, and be merry.

 

20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be due back (in the death) of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have prepared?

 

21 So is he that lays up (perishable) treasure for himself but is not rich to God (seeing as his treasures decay and fade away).

 

22 And He said to His disciples, Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for (the care of) your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.

 

23 For (your) life is so much more than food, and the body is more than clothing (to God who gave it).

 

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; neither do they have storehouses or barns; and God feeds them: how much more valuable are you than the birds?

 

25 And which of you being anxious can add one cubit (or one day) to the length of his life?

 

26 If you then are not able to do that which is least (adding the smallest measure to your life), why are you anxious for the rest?

 

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they do not toil, they do not spin (thread to decorate themselves); and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you (of whom He promised, with His life and bodily immortality), O you of little confidence?

 

29 And do not seek what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, being anxious (and unsettled) in your mind.

 

30 For all these things do (the people of all) the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things.

 

31 But rather seek the kingdom of God (where He serves you with all the fruit of His life); and all these (other) things shall be added to you.

 

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to (freely) give you the kingdom (where you lack no good thing pertaining to life and Godlikeness, but your cup runs over).

 

33 (Where seeing your abundance you) sell that which you have and give alms (to those who are in need); preparing yourselves bags which never grow old (or run out), a treasure in the heavens that never fails (or ceases), where no thief can approach, nor can a moth destroy (but is indestructible).

 

34 For where your treasure is (whether in heaven or on earth), there will your heart be also.

 

35 Let your loins be girded about (with truth), and your lamps burning (with the oil of the Holy Spirit);

 

36 And you will be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.

 

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the master, when he comes, shall find watching (in hope): truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to dinner, and (in the presence of their enemies) 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 this way, blessed are those servants.

 

39 And this know, that if the manager of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

 

40 Be therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you do not expect.

 

41 Then Peter said to Him, Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or even to everyone?

 

42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them (his servants) their portion of food in due season?

 

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find (him) doing so.

 

44 Of a truth I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

 

45 If, however, that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

 

46 The lord of that servant will come on a day when he does not look for him, and at an hour when he is unaware, and will divide, and will appoint him his portion (along) with the unbelievers.

 

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and did not prepare himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

 

48 But he that (was ignorant and) did not know, but did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him shall much be required: and unto whom men have committed much, of him they will ask much more.

 

49 I have come to cast fire on the earth; and how I do desire that it were already kindled?

 

50 But I have a baptism (with this body that was prepared for Me) to be baptized with (so that I might taste death for every man); and how I am straitened (fixed on this one purpose) till it be accomplished! (When I can say, “It is finished.”)

 

51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace on earth (among men)? I tell you, No, but rather division (even in a man's own household):

 

52 For from now on 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 (and you shall be hated by men for my name's sake).

 

54 And He said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There is coming a shower; and so it is.

 

55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be a heat wave; and it comes to pass.

 

56 You hypocrites (pretending not to see the signs), you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time (the time of your visitation)?

 

57 And why even now do you not judge for yourself what is right?

 

58 When you go with your opponent to the ruler, as you are on the way, give diligence (to make peace) so that you may be set free from him; lest he drag you (away) to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.

 

59 I tell you, you shall not depart there until you have paid the very last penny.