Luke 12
All 59 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
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- 1Meanwhile, a crowd of thousands had gathered — so many that people were trampling each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and said, "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
- 2Nothing that's covered up will stay hidden forever, and nothing kept secret will remain unknown.
- 3Whatever you've whispered in the dark will be heard in broad daylight, and what you've said behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.
- 4"I'm telling you, my friends — don't be afraid of people who can kill the body but can't do anything more than that.
- 5Let me tell you who to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I'm telling you — fear him.
- 6Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
- 7In fact, every hair on your head has been counted. So don't be afraid — you are worth far more than many sparrows.
- 8"I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me publicly will be acknowledged by the Son of Man before the angels of God.
- 9But whoever denies me in front of others will be denied before the angels of God.
- 10Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- 11When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how or what you will answer, or what you will say.
- 12The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very moment what you need to say."
- 13Someone in the crowd called out, "Teacher, tell my brother to split the inheritance with me."
- 14He said to him, “Man, who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?”
- 15Then he said to them all, "Be on your guard against every kind of greed, because a person's life isn't measured by how much they own."
- 16He told them a parable: "A rich man's land produced an enormous harvest.
- 17He thought to himself, 'What am I going to do? I don't have enough room to store all my crops.'
- 18Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do — I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods there.
- 19Then I'll say to my soul, "Soul, you've got plenty stored up for years to come. Relax! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'
- 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! Tonight your soul will be demanded from you. Then who will get everything you've stored up?'
- 21That's how it is for anyone who hoards wealth for themselves but isn't rich toward God."
- 22Then Jesus said to his disciples, "That's why I tell you — stop worrying about your life, what you'll eat, or about your body, what you'll wear.
- 23Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than clothing.
- 24Look at the ravens: they don't plant or harvest, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!
- 25“Which of you can add one cubit to his height by worrying?”
- 26If you can't even do something that small, why worry about the rest?
- 27Look at how the lilies grow. They don't work or weave cloth. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed as beautifully as one of these.
- 28If that's how God clothes the grass — here in the field today, thrown into the oven tomorrow — how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
- 29“Do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink, and do not be anxious.”
- 30The nations of the world chase after all these things, but your Father already knows you need them.
- 31Instead, seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- 32Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- 33Sell what you have and give to the poor; provide yourselves with purses that do not wear out, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
- 34Because wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart will be too.
- 35"Stay dressed and ready for action, with your lamps burning.
- 36Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast, so that when he arrives and knocks, they can open the door for him right away.
- 37How blessed are those servants whose master finds them alert and waiting when he comes! I tell you the truth — he will put on an apron, seat them at the table, and come out to serve them himself.
- 38Whether he comes at midnight or even later, those servants are blessed if he finds them ready.
- 39And know this: if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
- 40So you must be ready too, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don't expect."
- 41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable just to us, or to everyone?"
- 42The Lord replied, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager that the master puts in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
- 43That servant is blessed if the master finds him doing exactly that when he arrives.
- 44I tell you the truth — the master will put him in charge of everything he owns.
- 45But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink and be drunk;
- 46That servant's master will show up on a day he doesn't expect, at an hour he doesn't know. The master will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
- 47The servant who knew his master's wishes but didn't get ready or carry them out will receive a severe beating.
- 48But the one who didn't know and did things deserving punishment will receive a lighter beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And from the one entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
- 49“I have come to send fire upon the earth, and I wish it were already burning.”
- 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it's completed!
- 51Do you think I came to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you — I came to bring division.
- 52From now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
- 53Fathers will turn against sons and sons against fathers, mothers against daughters and daughters against mothers, mothers-in-law against daughters-in-law and daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law."
- 54Then he said to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising from the west, you immediately say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it is.
- 55When the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be scorching hot,' and it is.
- 56You hypocrites! You know how to read the weather by looking at the earth and sky, so why can't you read the signs of this present time?
- 57And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
- 58When you're on your way to court with someone who has a case against you, do everything you can to settle it before you get there. Otherwise, they may drag you before the judge, the judge will hand you over to the officer, and the officer will throw you in prison.
- 59I tell you, you won't get out until you've paid back the very last penny."