Luke 13

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

1Some people there told Jesus about men from Galilee. Pilate, the Roman ruler, had killed them while they were giving gifts to God.

2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

2Jesus answered them, "Do you think those men were worse than all other people from Galilee? Is that why this happened to them?"

3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

3"No, I tell you. But unless you turn back to God, you will all die too."

4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

4"Or think about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them. Were they worse than everyone else living in Jerusalem?"

5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

5"No, I tell you. But unless you turn back to God, you will all die too."

6He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

6Then Jesus told this story. A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He came looking for figs on it, but found none.

7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

7So he said to the man who cared for the vineyard, "For three years I have looked for figs here. I never find any. Cut it down. Why should it use up good soil?"

8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

8The worker answered, "Sir, leave it alone one more year. I will dig around it and feed the soil."

9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

9"If it grows figs next year, good. If it does not, then you can cut it down."

10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

10One Sabbath, the day set aside for rest, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, a place where people met to worship.

11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

11A woman there had been sick for eighteen years because of an evil spirit. Her back was bent over. She could not stand up straight at all.

12And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

12When Jesus saw her, he called her to come to him. He said, "Woman, you are set free from your sickness."

13And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

13He put his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight, and she praised God.

14And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

14The leader of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He said to the people, "There are six days for work. Come and be healed on those days, not on the rest day."

15The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

15The Lord answered him, "You are only pretending to be good. Every one of you unties his ox or donkey on the Sabbath. You lead it out to get water."

16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

16"This woman belongs to Abraham's family. Satan has kept her tied up for eighteen long years. Should she not be set free on the Sabbath day?"

17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

17When Jesus said this, the people who argued against him felt ashamed. The whole crowd was glad about the wonderful things he was doing.

18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

18Then Jesus asked, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it to?"

19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

19"It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in his garden. It grew into a tree, and birds made nests in its branches."

20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

20Again he asked, "What can I compare God's kingdom to?"

21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

21"It is like yeast that a woman mixed into a big batch of flour. Soon the yeast worked all the way through the dough."

Note"Leaven" is yeast, the stuff that makes bread dough rise. "Three measures of meal" is a very large amount of flour, enough bread for many people.

22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

22Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people. He was making his way toward Jerusalem.

23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

23Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus said to them:

24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

24"Work hard to get in through the narrow door. Many people will try to get in and will not be able to."

NoteThe old word "strait" means narrow. It is not the same word as "straight."

25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

25"The owner of the house will get up and shut the door. You will stand outside and knock. You will say, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will answer, 'I do not know where you come from.'"

26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you. You taught in our streets.'"

27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

27"But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Go away from me, all of you who do wrong.'"

28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

28"You will cry and grind your teeth. You will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob inside God's kingdom. You will see all the prophets there too, the people who told others what God said. But you yourselves will be put outside."

29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

29"People will come from the east and the west, the north and the south. They will sit down to eat in God's kingdom."

30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

30"Listen. Some who are last now will be first. And some who are first now will be last."

31The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

31That same day some Pharisees came to Jesus. They were men who cared very much about religious rules. They said, "Leave this place. Herod the ruler wants to kill you."

32And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

32Jesus answered, "Go and tell that fox this. 'I am driving out evil spirits and healing people today and tomorrow. On the third day I will finish my work.'"

Note"I shall be perfected" means "I will finish the work I came to do."

33Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

33"Even so, I must keep going today, tomorrow, and the next day. A prophet cannot be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem."

34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

34"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You throw stones at the messengers God sends you. I wanted to gather your children close, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you would not let me."

35Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

35"Look, your house is left empty. I tell you, you will not see me again. You will see me when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the Lord's name.'"