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.

While a huge crowd gathered, Jesus warned his disciples first about the Pharisees' hypocrisy, called leaven.

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

Nothing hidden will remain unrevealed; nothing secret will stay unknown.

Therefore 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.

So, whatever you've whispered in private will be shouted out loud in public, and secrets shared in small rooms will be announced from rooftops.

And 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.

I tell my friends, don't be scared of those who can only harm your body and then can't hurt you anymore.

But 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.

But I will warn you who to be afraid of: Be afraid of the one who can throw you into hell after killing you. Yes, I'm telling you, be afraid of him.

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

Do not the five sparrows sold for two coins escape God's notice? (Note: This translation tries to stay as close to the original wording as possible while still simplifying it.)

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

But don't worry, each hair on your head is counted. So you're important, more than lots of little birds.

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

I tell you this too: whoever admits they know me in front of others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge them in front of God's angels.

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

But if someone refuses to acknowledge me in front of people, they will also be rejected by God's angels.

And 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.

Whoever says something bad about the Son of man can be forgiven, but those who insult the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

And 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:

When they take you to synagogues, magistrates, or authorities, don't worry about what to say or how to respond.

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

The Holy Spirit will guide you on what to say in just one hour.

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

One person in the group asked Jesus, "Sir, tell my brother to share our family property with me."

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

He asked, "Why do you make me judge or separator between you and him?"

And 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.

He told them, "Be careful about wanting more than you need, because a person's life isn't about having lots of stuff."

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

He told them a story: A rich man's land was very productive.

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

He wondered to himself, "What should I do since I don't have a place to store my produce?"

And 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.

He said, "I'll do this: I'll take down my barns and build bigger ones; then I'll store all my fruits and possessions there."

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

I'll tell my soul, "We have lots of stuff saved for a long time. Relax, enjoy food, drinks, and have fun.

But 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?

But God told him, "You foolish person, tonight your life will be taken away. So, who will get the things you prepared?"

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

So is the one who saves wealth for themselves, but isn't generous to God.

And 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.

He told his followers, "Don't worry about food or clothes. Just focus on doing God's work."

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

Life is about more than just food, and our physical self is about more than what we wear.

Consider 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?

Look at the ravens: they don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storage or barns. Yet, God still provides for them. So, how much more will God take care of you who are better than the birds?

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

Which one of you, by thinking about it, can make themselves one inch taller?

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

If you can't even do the smallest thing, why worry about the rest?

Consider 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.

Look at the lilies as they grow; they don't work or make anything, but even so, no one was dressed as beautifully as Solomon, not even in his greatest glory, compared to how these flowers are adorned.

If 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?

If God takes care of the grass that grows today in the fields but gets burnt tomorrow, how much more will He take care of you who doubt?

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

Don't worry about what food you'll have or what drinks you'll get, and don't be unsure in your thinking.

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

People around the world want these things, and your Father knows you need them.

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

Instead, look for God's kingdom; then everything you need will be given to you.

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

Don't be afraid, small group; because it brings joy to your Father to give you the kingdom.

Sell 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.

Sell what you have and give to the poor. Get bags that don't get old, treasures in heaven that never fail, where no one can steal or damage them.

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

Where you value things most, your heart will be the same way.

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

Tie up your waist and keep your lights lit.

And 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.

Be like people waiting for their boss to come back from a party. When he arrives and knocks, you can let him in right away.

Blessed 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.

Blessed are the servants who are watching when the Lord returns. I assure you, He will put on an apron, set a meal for them, and then serve them personally.

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

If he arrives during the second or third watch and finds them like that, blessed are those servants.

And 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.

And understand this: If the homeowner knew when the thief would arrive, they would watch carefully and wouldn't let their house get broken into.

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

Be prepared too, because the Son of Man will come unexpectedly at a time you don't think he will.

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

Then Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this story just to us, or to everyone?"

And 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?

And the Lord asked, Who, then, is the loyal and smart manager that the master will put in charge of his home, so they can give everyone their share of meat at the right time?

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

Blessed is the servant whom, upon his master's arrival, finds him working diligently.

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

I truly tell you, he will make him the leader of everything he owns.

But 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;

But if that servant thinks his master is taking too long to return, and then starts mistreating the other helpers, eating and drinking too much, and getting drunk.

The 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.

The master of that servant will return unexpectedly when he isn't looking, at a time he doesn't know, and will punish him severely, giving him a place among those who don't believe.

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

The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't get ready or act accordingly will be punished with many blows.

But 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.

But if someone didn't know and did something deserving a few lashes, they will only get a few. Those who are given a lot will be expected to do a lot in return, and those entrusted with much will have even more asked of them.

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

I've come to bring fire to Earth; why, if it's already burning?

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

But I need to be baptized in a special way; and I can't relax until it's done.

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

Do you think I came to bring peace on Earth? I'm telling you no, instead, I come to cause division.

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

From now on, in one home, there will be five people split into two groups, with one group of three going against the other group of two, and vice versa.

The 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.

Parents will fight with their children, and vice versa; mothers will fight with their daughters, and vice versa; mothers-in-law will fight with their daughters-in-law, and vice versa.

And 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.

He told the people, "When you see a cloud from the west, quickly say, 'A rainstorm is coming.' And it will happen that way."

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

When you notice the southern wind blowing, you say, "It will be hot." And sure enough, it happens.

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

Hypocrites, you can tell what the sky and ground look like, but why can't you understand this time?

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

So, why don't you judge for yourselves what is fair?

When 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.

When you go with your opponent to a judge, make sure you try hard to avoid him along the way. Otherwise, he might take you to court, and the judge may send you to a police officer, who then puts you in jail.

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

I'm telling you, you can't leave until you pay the smallest amount owed.