Luke 12

1When vast crowds had gathered—so much that they trampled one another—he began telling his disciples first: "Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

2But nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, nor anything secret that will not be made known.

3Therefore whatever you said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you spoke to the ear in the storerooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

4I say to you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and afterward cannot do anything more.

5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the one who after killing has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him.

6Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them has been forgotten before God.

7But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear—you are worth more than many sparrows.

8I tell you, everyone who confesses me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

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

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

11When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry how or what you will answer or what you will say.

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

13Someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

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

15He said to them, "Watch and guard yourselves from all greed, because one's life is not in the abundance of the possessions he has."

16He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a certain rich man yielded abundantly."

17And he considered within himself, saying, "What will I do, because I have nowhere to gather my crops?"

18And he said, "This I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all the grain and my goods."

19And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years; rest, eat, drink, rejoice."

20But God said to him, “Fool, this night they demand your soul from you; and what you prepared—to whom will it belong?”

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

22He said to his disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life—what you will eat—nor your body—what you will wear."

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

24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds!

25And which of you by worry can add a cubit to his stature?

26If then you are not able even for the least thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin, yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.

28But if God clothes the grass in the field—which exists today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven—how much more does he clothe you, you of little faith?

29And you, do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink, nor be anxious.

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

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

32Do not fear, little flock, because your Father was pleased to give you the kingdom.

33Sell your possessions and give alms; make for yourselves purses that do not decay, a treasure in the heavens that never fails, where no thief draws near nor moth destroys.

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

35Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning.

36You yourselves be like people expecting their own master when he returns from the weddings, so that when he comes and knocks, they open to him immediately.

37Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I tell you that he will gird himself and have them recline and come and serve them.

38Even if he comes in the second or even the third watch and finds them so, blessed are those.

39But know this: if the householder had known what hour the thief comes, he would not have allowed his house to be broken through.

40You also be ready, for the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.

41Peter said, "Lord, are you directing this parable to us, or even to all?"

42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will appoint over his household to give them the food ration at the proper time?"

43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing thus when he comes.

44Indeed, I say to you, he will appoint him over all his possessions.

45But if that servant says in his heart, “My lord is slow to come,” and begins beating the male servants and maidservants, and eating and drinking and getting drunk,

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

47That servant who knew his lord's will, yet neither prepared nor acted according to it, will be beaten with many blows.

48But the one who did not know, yet did things deserving lashes, will be beaten with few lashes. Everyone to whom much was given will have much required of him, and those who entrusted much to him will demand even more of him.

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

50But I have a baptism into which to be baptized, and how pressed I am until it is finished!

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

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

53They will be divided: father 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 her mother-in-law.

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

55And when a south wind blows, you say, "Scorching heat is coming," and it happens.

56Hypocrites, you know how to discern the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how do you fail to discern this time?

57But why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right?

58For as you go with your adversary to the ruler, make every effort on the way to be released from him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59I tell you, you will not get out from there until you pay even the last mite.