Luke:12

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* Now in the meantime , as an innumerable crowd had gathered together so that they were stepping on one another , He began to say to His disciples first of all , "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees , which is hypocrisy . * For there is nothing covered that shall not be unveiled , and [nothing ] secret that shall not be made known . * Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark shall be heard in the light , and what you have spoken in the ear in behind closed doors shall be proclaimed on the housetops . * "And I say to you , My friends , do not be afraid of those who kill the body , and after that have nothing further they can do . * But I will show you whom you should fear : fear Him who after He kills , has authority to cast into hell ; yes , I say to you , fear Him ! * Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins ? And not one of them is forgotten before God . * But the very hairs of your head have all been numbered . Do not fear therefore ; you are of more value than many sparrows . * "Also I say to you , whoever confesses Me before men , him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God . * But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God . * And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man , it will be forgiven him ; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit , it will not be forgiven . * Now whenever they bring you to the synagogues and rulers and authorities , do not worry about how or what you should answer , or what you should say . * For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say ." * Then someone from the crowd said to Him , "Teacher , tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me ." * But He said to him , "Man , who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over you ?" * And He said to them , "Take heed and beware of covetousness , for one 's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions ." * Then He told a parable to them , saying : "The field of a certain rich man produced well . * And he reasoned within himself , saying , 'What shall I do , because I have nowhere to gather my crops ?' * So he said , 'I will do this : I will tear down my barns and I will build bigger [ones ], and there I will gather all my crops and my goods . * And I will say to my soul , "Soul , you have many goods laid away for many years ; relax ; eat , drink , and be merry ."' * But God said to him , ['You ]fool ! This night your soul will be required of you ; then whose will those things be which you have prepared ?' * So [is ] he who accumulates treasure for himself , and is not rich toward God ." * Then He said to His disciples , "Therefore I say to you , do not worry about your life , what you will eat ; nor about the body , what you will wear . * Life is more than food , and the body is [more ]than clothing . * Consider the ravens , for they neither sow nor reap , which have neither storeroom nor barn ; and God feeds them . How much more are you worth than birds ? * And which of you [by ] worrying can add one cubit to his stature ? * Therefore if you cannot do a very little thing , why do you worry about the rest ? * Consider the lilies , how they grow : they neither toil nor spin ; and yet I say to you , not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these . * But if God so clothes the grass , although it is in the field today , and tomorrow is cast into the oven , by how much rather [will He clothe ] you , O you of little faith ? * And do not seek what you may eat or what you may drink , and do not be anxious . * For all these things the nations of the world seek after , but your Father knows that you need these things . * But seek the kingdom of God , and all these things shall be added to you . * Do not fear , little flock , because your Father is well pleased to give to you the kingdom . * Sell your possessions and give alms ; make for yourselves money bags which do not grow old , an unfailing treasure in the heavens , where a thief does not come near , nor does a moth destroy . * For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also . * "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning ; * and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master , when he will return from the wedding celebration , so that when he comes and knocks , immediately they may open to him . * Blessed are those servants whom the master , when he comes , will find watching . Assuredly I say to you , that he will gird himself and have them recline [to eat ], and he will come and serve them . * And if he comes in the second watch , or comes in the third watch , and find [them ] so , blessed are those servants . * But know this , that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming , he would have kept watch , and not allowed his house to be broken into . * Therefore you also be ready , for in an hour that you think not , the Son of Man comes ." * Then Peter said to Him , "Lord , do You speak this parable only to us , or to all [people ]?" * And the Lord said , "Who then is a faithful and wise steward , whom his master will make ruler over his household , to give them their portion of food in due season ? * Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes . * Truly I say to you , that he will appoint him over all his possessions . * But if that servant says in his heart , 'My master is delaying his coming ,' and begins to beat the male and female servants , and to eat and drink and be drunk , * the master of that servant will come on a day which he does not expect , and at an hour which he does not know , and he will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers . * And that servant who knew his master 's will , and did not get ready or do according to his will , shall be beaten [with ] many [blows ]. * But he who did not know , yet did things worthy of [blows ], shall be beaten [with ] few . For everyone to whom much is given , from him much will be demanded ; and to whom much has been entrusted , of him they will ask much more . * "I came to cast fire to the earth , and how I wish it were already kindled ! * But I have a baptism to be baptized [with ], and how distressed I am till it is completed ! * Do you think that I came to give peace on earth ? I tell you , not at all , but rather division . * For from now on five in one house will be divided : three against two , and two against three . * Father will be divided against a son and a son against father , a mother against a daughter and a daughter against a mother , a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law ." * Then He also said to the crowds , "Whenever you see a cloud rising from the west , immediately you say , 'A rainstorm is coming '; and it happens thus . * And whenever you see the south wind blow , you say , 'There will be hot weather '; and it happens . * Hypocrites ! You know [how ] to discern the face of the earth and of the sky , but how is it you do not discern this time ? * "And why do you not judge what is right , even of yourselves ? * When you go with your adversary to the magistrate , make an effort to make a settlement with him on the road , lest he drag you to the judge , and the judge deliver you to the bailiff , and the bailiff throw you into prison . * I tell you , you shall by no means depart from there till you have paid the very last mite ."

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