| 1 In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were
gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say
unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be
revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 3 Wherefore whatsoever ye have
said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in
the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 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. 5 But I will warn you whom
ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into
hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two
pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. 7 But the
very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than
many sparrows. 8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before
men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 but
he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of
the angels of God. 10 And every one who shall speak a word against the Son
of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the
Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before
the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or
what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 for the Holy Spirit shall
teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say. 13 And one out of the
multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with
me. 14 But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over
you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all
covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The
ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 and he reasoned
within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow
my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and
build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19 And I
will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take
thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish
one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast
prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God. 22 And he said unto his disciples,
Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall
eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. 23 For the life is more
than the food, and the body than the raiment. 24 Consider the ravens, that
they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God
feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds! 25 And which
of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?
26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye
anxious concerning the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they
toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God doth so clothe the
grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how
much more shall he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek
not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful
mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but
your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 Yet seek ye his
kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little
flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses
which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief
draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. 34 For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also. 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your
lamps burning; 36 and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their
lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and
knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. 37 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 sit down to meat, and shall
come and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if
in the third, and find them so blessed are those servants.
39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour
the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to
be broken through. 40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not
the Son of man cometh. 41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable
unto us, or even unto all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful
and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them
their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his
lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you,
that he will set him over all that he hath. 45 But if that servant shall
say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the
menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and
in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his
portion with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant, who knew his lord's
will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with
many stripes; 48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of
stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is
given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him
will they ask the more. 49 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do
I desire, if it is already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized
with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Think ye that I
am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three
against two, and two against three. 53 They shall be divided, father
against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter
against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter
in law against her mother in law. 54 And he said to the multitudes also,
When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a
shower; and so it cometh to pass. 55 And when ye see a south wind
blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the
heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time? 57 And
why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 For as thou art
going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence
to be quit of him; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge
shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into
prison. 59 I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till
thou have paid the very last mite.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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