Luke 12

¹Then, as great crowds were standing so close that they were stepping on one another, he began to say to his disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

²For there is nothing covered, which will not be revealed, nor anything hidden, which will not be known.

³For the things that you have spoken in darkness will be declared in the light. And what you have said in the ear in bedrooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

⁴So I say to you, my friends: Do not be fearful of those who kill the body, and afterwards have no more that they can do.

⁵But I will reveal to you whom you should fear. Fear him who, after he will have killed, has the power to cast into Hell. So I say to you: Fear him.

⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? And yet not one of these is forgotten in the sight of God.

⁷But even the very hairs of your head have all been numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

⁸But I say to you: Everyone who will have confessed me before men, the Son of man will also confess him before the Angels of God.

⁹But everyone who will have denied me before men, he will be denied before the Angels of God.

¹⁰And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven of him. But of him who will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

¹¹And when they will lead you to the synagogues, and to magistrates and authorities, do not choose to be worried about how or what you will answer, or about what you might say.

¹²For the Holy Spirit will teach you, in the same hour, what you must say.”

¹³And someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴But he said to him, “Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?”

¹⁵So he said to them: “Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.”

¹⁶Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: “The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops.

¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.’

¹⁸And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.’

²⁰But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?’

²¹So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.”

²²And he said to his disciples: “And so I say to you: Do not choose to be anxious about your life, as to what you may eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear.

²³Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

²⁴Consider the ravens. For they neither sow nor reap; there is no storehouse or barn for them. And yet God pastures them. How much more are you, compared to them?

²⁵But which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature?

²⁶Therefore, if you are not capable, in what is so little, why be anxious about the rest?

²⁷Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither work nor weave. But I say to you, not even Solomon, in all his glory, was clothed like one of these.

²⁸Therefore, if God so clothes the grass, which is in the field today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more you, O little in faith?

²⁹And so, do not choose to inquire as to what you will eat, or what you will drink. And do not choose to be lifted up on high.

³⁰For all these things are sought by the Gentiles of the world. And your Father knows that you have need of these things.

³¹Yet truly, seek first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you.

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

³³Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that will not wear out, a treasure that will not fall short, in heaven, where no thief approaches, and no moth corrupts.

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

³⁵Let your waists be girded, and let lamps be burning in your hands.

³⁶And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly.

³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he returns, will find being vigilant. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, while he, continuing on, will minister to them.

³⁸And if he will return in the second watch, or if in the third watch, and if he will find them to be so: then blessed are those servants.

³⁹But know this: that if the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly stand watch, and he would not permit his house to be broken into.

⁴⁰You also must be prepared. For the Son of man will return at an hour that you will not realize.”

⁴¹Then Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or also to everyone?”

⁴²So the Lord said: “Who do you think is the faithful and prudent steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his family, in order to give them their measure of wheat in due time?

⁴³Blessed is that servant if, when his Lord will return, he will find him acting in this manner.

⁴⁴Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over all that he possesses.

⁴⁵But if that servant will have said in his heart, ‘My Lord has made a delay in his return,’ and if he has begun to strike the men and women servants, and to eat and drink, and to be inebriated,

⁴⁶then the Lord of that servant will return on a day which he hoped not, and at an hour which he knew not. And he will separate him, and he will place his portion with that of the unfaithful.

⁴⁷And that servant, who knew the will of his Lord, and who did not prepare and did not act according to his will, will be beaten many times over.

⁴⁸Yet he who did not know, and who acted in a way that deserves a beating, will be beaten fewer times. So then, of all to whom much has been given, much will be required. And of those to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be asked.

⁴⁹I have come to cast a fire upon the earth. And what should I desire, except that it may be kindled?

⁵⁰And I have a baptism, with which I am to be baptized. And how I am constrained, even until it may be accomplished!

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

⁵²For from this time on, there will be five in one house: divided as three against two, and as two against three.

⁵³A father will be divided against a son, and a son against his father; a mother against a daughter and a daughter against a mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

⁵⁴And he also said to the crowds: “When you see a cloud rising from the setting of the sun, immediately you say, ‘A rain cloud is coming.’ And so it does.

⁵⁵And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be hot.’ And so it is.

⁵⁶You hypocrites! You discern the face of the heavens, and of the earth, yet how is it that you do not discern this time?

⁵⁷And why do you not, even among yourselves, judge what is just?

⁵⁸So, when you are going with your adversary to the ruler, while you are on the way, make an effort to be freed from him, lest perhaps he may lead you to the judge, and the judge may deliver you to the officer, and the officer may cast you into prison.

⁵⁹I tell you, you will not depart from there, until you have paid the very last coin.”

Luke 12

¹And when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

²For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed: nor hidden that shall not be known.

³For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers shall be preached on the housetops.

⁴And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.

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

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

⁷Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

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

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

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

¹¹And when they shall bring you into the synagogues and to magistrates and powers, be not solicitous how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say.

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

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

¹⁴But he said to him: Man, who hath appointed me judge or divider over you?

¹⁵And he said to them: Take heed and beware of all covetousness: for a man's life doth not consist in the abundance of things which he possesseth.

¹⁶And he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits.

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

¹⁸And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and will build greater: and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me and my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thy rest: eat, drink, make good cheer.

²⁰But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee. And whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

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

²²And he said to his disciples: Therefore I say to you: Be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on.

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

²⁴Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they?

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

²⁶If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest?

²⁷Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.

²⁸Now, if God clothe in this manner the grass that is to-day in the field and to-morrow is cast into the oven: how much more you, O ye of little faith?

²⁹And seek not what you shall eat or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high.

³⁰For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.

³¹But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice: and all these things shall be added unto you.

³²Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.

³³Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.

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

³⁵Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands.

³⁶And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately.

³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down to meat and passing will minister unto them.

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

³⁹But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open.

⁴⁰Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not the Son of man will come.

⁴¹And Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou speak this parable to us, or likewise to all?

⁴²And the Lord said: Who thinkest thou is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his family, to give them their measure of wheat in due season?

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

⁴⁴Verily I say to you, he will set him over all that he possesseth.

⁴⁵But if that servant shall say in his heart: My Lord is long a coming; and shall begin to strike the men-servants and maid-servants, and to eat and to drink and be drunk:

⁴⁶The lord of that servant will come in the day that he hopeth not, and at the hour that he knoweth not: and shall separate him and shall appoint him his portion with unbelievers.

⁴⁷And that servant, who knew the will of his lord and prepared not himself and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

⁴⁸But he that knew not and did things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.

⁴⁹I am come to cast fire on the earth. And what will I, but that it be kindled?

⁵⁰And I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized. And how am I straitened until it be accomplished?

⁵¹Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.

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

⁵³The father shall be divided against the son and the son against his father: the mother against the daughter and the daughter against her mother: the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

⁵⁴And he said also to the multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming. And so it happeneth.

⁵⁵And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will heat. And it cometh to pass.

⁵⁶You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time?

⁵⁷And why, even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?

⁵⁸And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to he judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison.

⁵⁹I say to thee, thou shalt not go out thence until thou pay the very last mite.