Luke 12
1 Meanwhile, the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they were trampling one another, and Jesus began to say, first to his disciples: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not become known.
3 So everything you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops.
4 I tell you, my friends: do not be afraid of those who kill the body and, after that, can do nothing more.
5 I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw you into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you: fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 Even the hairs on your heads are all counted. 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 whoever denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God.
10 Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 When they bring you before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very moment what you must say.”
13 Someone in the crowd said to him: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 He replied: “Man, who appointed me judge or divider between you?”
15 And he said to them: “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because even when someone has plenty, his life does not come from his possessions.”
16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced a good crop.
17 And he thought to himself: ‘What shall I do? I have nowhere to store my harvest.’
18 Then he said: ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, «Soul, you have plenty of goods stored up for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be merry.»’
20 But God said to him: ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you; and what you have prepared, whose will it be?’
21 That is what happens to the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
22 Then he said to his disciples: “That is why 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 Look at the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 Which of you, by worrying, can add a cubit to his height?
26 If, then, you cannot do even the smallest thing, why worry about the rest?
27 Look at the lilies: they neither spin nor weave. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of them.
28 If God clothes the grass like this, though it is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!
29 And you, do not seek what you will eat or drink, and do not be anxious.
30 For all these things are what the nations of the world seek, but 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, because your Father was pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not 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 too.”
35 “Keep your waists girded and your lamps burning.
36 Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so they can open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes. Truly I tell you: he will gird himself, have them recline at the table, and come and serve them.
38 And if he comes in the middle of the night or toward dawn and finds them ready, blessed are they.
39 But know this: if the owner of the house had known what time the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40 You too, 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 to us or to everyone?”
42 The Lord replied: “Who, then, is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his household to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes.
44 Truly I tell you: he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 But suppose that servant says in his heart: ‘My master is taking a long time to come,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat, drink, and get drunk.
46 The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know; he will cut him in two 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 and did things deserving of blows will receive few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one 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 I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!
51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
52 For from now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two and two against three.
53 They 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.”
54 He also said to the crowds: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say: ‘Rain is coming,’ and so it happens.
55 And when the south wind blows, you say: ‘It will be hot,’ and it happens.
56 Hypocrites! You know how to judge the appearance of the earth and sky, but how is it that you do not know how to judge this time?
57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 When you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort on the way to settle with him, or he may drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I tell you: you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last copper coin.”
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