Luke 12:13-21

The Parable of the Rich Landowner Who Was a Fool

13 Now someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!"

14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"

15 And he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not [even] when someone has an abundance {does} his life [consist] of his possessions."

16 And he told a parable to them, saying, "The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

17 And he reasoned to himself, saying, 'What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.'

18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions.

19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!" '

20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life is demanded from you, and [the things] which you have prepared--whose will they be?'

21 So [is] the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "is"
• [b] The same Greek word can be translated "soul" or "life" depending on the context