Luke 12:13-34

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!"

Anxiety

22 And he said to his disciples, "For this [reason] I tell you, do not be anxious for [your] life, what you will eat, or for [your] body, what you will wear.

23 For life is more than food, and the body [more than] clothing.

24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?

25 And which of you [by] being anxious is able to add an hour to his life span?

26 If then you are not even able [to do] a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

28 But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more [will he do so for] you, you of little faith?

29 And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

30 For all the nations of the world seek after these [things], and your Father knows that you need these [things].

31 But seek his kingdom and these [things] will be added to you.

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven where thief does not approach or moth destroy.

34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "is"
• [b]. The same Greek word can be translated "soul" or "life" depending on the context
• [c]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [d]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [e]. *Here "[by]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("being anxious") which is understood as means
• [f]. Or "a cubit" (the literal meaning); most scholars understand this to refer figuratively to an "hour" of life here, though some take it as a literal measurement of height
• [g]. *Here "[although]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("is") which is understood as concessive
• [h]. *The phrase "[will he do so for]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [i]. Or "in the heavens"