Luke 12

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.

1A huge crowd came together. So many people came that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his followers first. He said, "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, teachers who were very strict about religious rules. Their yeast is pretending to be good."

NoteLeaven is yeast, the little bit added to bread dough. A small amount spreads through the whole batch.

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

2Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered. Nothing is hidden that will not be known.

3Therefore 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.

3So what you said in the dark will be heard in daylight. What you whispered inside a room will be shouted from the rooftops.

4And 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.

4I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of people who can kill your body. After that, they can do nothing more to you.

5But 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.

5I will tell you who you should fear. Fear the One who can throw you into hell after you die. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

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

6Five sparrows are sold for two small coins. Yet God does not forget even one of them.

NoteA farthing was a very small coin. Two of them bought very little.

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

7God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So do not be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

8I tell you, some people will say in front of others that they belong to me. The Son of Man, the name Jesus used for himself, will say they belong to him. He will say it in front of God's angels.

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

9But if someone says in front of others that he does not know me, he will be turned away in front of God's angels.

10And 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.

10Anyone who says something against the Son of Man can still be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11And 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:

11People will take you to synagogues, the buildings where Jews meet to worship. They will take you to rulers and leaders. Do not worry about how to answer or what to say.

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

12The Holy Spirit will teach you right at that moment what you should say.

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

13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share with me what our family left us."

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

14Jesus answered, "Friend, who made me your judge? Who put me in charge of splitting up your things?"

15And 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.

15Then he said to them, "Be careful. Watch out for wanting more and more things. A person's life is not made of the many things he owns."

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

16Then he told them a story that teaches something. He said, "A rich man's land grew a very big crop."

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

17The man thought to himself, "What should I do? I have no place to keep all my crops."

18And 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.

18Then he said, "Here is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and my things there."

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

19"Then I will tell myself, You have plenty saved up for many years. Rest. Eat, drink, and be happy."

20But 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?

20But God said to him, "You fool! Tonight your life will be taken from you. Then who will get all the things you saved?"

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

21That is how it is for anyone who saves up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.

22And 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.

22Then Jesus said to his followers, "So I tell you, do not worry about your life, about what you will eat. Do not worry about your body, about what you will wear."

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

23Life is more than food. And your body is more than clothes.

24Consider 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?

24Think about the ravens, the big black birds. They do not plant seeds or gather crops. They have no barn to store food. God still feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!

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

25Can any of you add even one hour to your life by worrying?

26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

26You cannot do that small thing. So why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider 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.

27Look at how the lily flowers grow. They do not work, and they do not make cloth. But I tell you, King Solomon in all his fine clothes was not dressed as well as one of these flowers.

28If 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?

28God dresses the grass in the field. Today it is growing, and tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. He will do so much more for you. You trust him so little!

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

29So do not keep asking what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

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

30People all over the world chase after these things. Your Father knows that you need them.

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

31Instead, want God's kingdom most of all, where God is king. Then all these things will be given to you too.

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

32Do not be afraid, my little flock of sheep. Your Father is glad to give you the kingdom.

33Sell 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.

33Sell what you own and give to poor people. Get money bags that never wear out. Keep your treasure in heaven, where it never runs out. No thief can reach it there, and no moth can eat it.

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

34Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

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

35Be dressed and ready to work. Keep your lamps burning.

36And 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.

36Be like servants waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. When he comes and knocks, they open the door for him right away.

37Blessed 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.

37Those servants are happy if the master comes home and finds them awake and waiting. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed to serve them. He will have them sit down at the table, and he will bring them their food.

38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

38He may come in the middle of the night, or even later. If he finds them awake and ready, those servants are happy.

NotePeople split the night into "watches," the time blocks when guards took turns. The second and third watch were the middle of the night and just before morning.

39And 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.

39Know this too. If the owner of a house knew when the robber was coming, he would not let his house be broken into.

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

40So you must be ready too. The Son of Man will come at a time you do not expect.

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

41Then Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?"

42And 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?

42The Lord said, "Who is the servant his master can trust, the wise one? The master puts him in charge of the other workers. He gives them their food at the right time."

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

43That servant is happy if his master comes home and finds him doing his job.

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

44I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of everything he owns.

45But 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;

45But that servant may say to himself, "My master will not come home for a long time." Then he starts hitting the other servants, both men and women. He eats and drinks and gets drunk.

46The 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.

46The master will come home on a day the servant does not expect. He will come at an hour the servant does not know about. The master will cut him to pieces. He will put him with the people who did not believe.

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

47That servant knew what his master wanted. He did not get ready, and he did not do it. So he will be beaten many times.

48But 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.

48But a servant who did not know, and did things that deserve punishment, will be beaten only a few times. If someone is given much, much will be asked of him. If someone is trusted with much, even more will be asked of him.

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

49I came to start a fire on the earth. How I wish it were already burning!

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

50But first I have a baptism to go through. I feel troubled inside until it is finished.

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

51Do you think I came to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you. I bring people taking sides against each other.

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

52From now on, five people in one house will be split apart. Three will be against two, and two against three.

53The 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.

53A father will be against his son, and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter, and a daughter against her mother. A husband's mother will be against his wife, and the wife against her.

54And 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.

54Jesus also said to the crowd, "When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, 'Rain is coming.' And it does."

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

55When the south wind blows, you say, "It is going to be hot." And it is.

56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

56You pretenders! You know how to read the sky and the land. So why can you not understand what is happening right now?

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

57And why do you not decide for yourselves what is right?

58When 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.

58Someone may say you owe him something and take you to court. While you are still walking there, try hard to settle it with him. If you do not, he may drag you to the judge. The judge may hand you to the officer. The officer may put you in jail.

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

59I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last coin.

NoteA mite was the smallest coin people used. It was worth almost nothing.