Luke 12

¹ Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

² Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

³ Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops.

⁴ "I tell you, my friends: Do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more.

⁵ But I will show you whom to fear: Fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear that one!

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

⁷ Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

⁸ "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.

⁹ But the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God.

¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

¹¹ When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you should say in your defense, or what you should say.

¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say."

¹³ Someone in 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 as a judge or arbitrator over you?"

¹⁵ Then he said to them, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against all greed, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly.

¹⁷ And he was thinking to himself, 'What should I do? I have nowhere to store my crops.'

¹⁸ Then he said, 'This is what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I'll store all my grain and my goods.

¹⁹ And I'll say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, enjoy yourself."'

²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul is demanded from you. And the things you have prepared — whose will they be?'

²¹ "So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

²² Then he said to his disciples, "For this reason I tell you: Do not worry about your life — what you will eat — or about your body — what you will wear.

²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

²⁴ Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!

²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?

²⁶ If then you cannot do even such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they don't labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

²⁸ If God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you — you of little faith!

²⁹ And do not keep striving for what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

³⁰ For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

³¹ Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

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

³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out — an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

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

³⁵ "Be dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.

³⁶ Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.

³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself for service, have them recline at the table, and come and serve them.

³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them ready — blessed are those servants!

³⁹ But know this: if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

⁴¹ Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?"

⁴² And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he arrives.

⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

⁴⁷ That servant who knew his master's will but did not prepare or act according to his will, will receive many blows.

⁴⁸ But the one who did not know, yet did things deserving punishment, will receive few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

⁴⁹ "I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

⁵¹ Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

⁵² For from now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

⁵³ Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and so it happens.

⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be scorching hot,' and it happens.

⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don't you know how to interpret this present time?

⁵⁷ "And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

⁵⁸ As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Otherwise, he may drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

⁵⁹ I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."