New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.
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When a crowd of thousands upon thousands had gathered so that they were crushing each other, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees—I mean, the mismatch between their hearts and lives.
2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
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Nothing is hidden that won't be revealed, and nothing is secret that won't be brought out into the open.
3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
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Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and whatever you have whispered in the rooms deep inside the house will be announced from the rooftops.
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.
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“I tell you, my friends, don't be terrified by those who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more.
5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
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I'll show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after you have been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell. Indeed, I tell you, that's the one you should fear.
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.
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Aren't five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is overlooked by God.
7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
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Even the hairs on your head are all counted. Don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.
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"I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before humans, the Human One will acknowledge before God's angels.
9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.
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But the one who rejects me before others will be rejected before God's angels.
10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
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Anyone who speaks a word against the Human One will be forgiven, but whoever insults the Holy Spirit won't be forgiven.
11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,
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When they bring you before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what you should say.
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”
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The Holy Spirit will tell you at that very moment what you must say."
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
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Someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”
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Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed me as judge or referee between you and your brother?"
15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
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Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one's life isn't determined by one's possessions, even when someone is very wealthy."
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
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Then he told them a parable: "A certain rich man's land produced a bountiful crop.
17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’
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He said to himself, What will I do? I have no place to store my harvest!
18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.
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Then he thought, Here's what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. That's where I'll store all my grain and goods.
19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
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I'll say to myself, You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
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But God said to him, ‘Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?'
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
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This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren't rich toward God."
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore, I say to you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.
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There is more to life than food and more to the body than clothing.
24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
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Consider the ravens: they neither plant nor harvest, they have no silo or barn, yet God feeds them. You are worth so much more than birds!
25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
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Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?
26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
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If you can't do such a small thing, why worry about the rest?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
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Notice how the lilies grow. They don't wear themselves out with work, and they don't spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all his splendor wasn't dressed like one of these.
28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
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If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it's alive today and tomorrow it's thrown into the furnace, how much more will God do for you, you people of weak faith!
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.
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Don't chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying.
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.
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All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them.
31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
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Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
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“Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
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Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don't wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys.
34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
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Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,
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"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps lit.
36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
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Be like people waiting for their master to come home from a wedding celebration, who can immediately open the door for him when he arrives and knocks on the door.
37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!
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Happy are those servants whom the master finds waiting up when he arrives. I assure you that, when he arrives, he will dress himself to serve, seat them at the table as honored guests, and wait on them.
38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
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Happy are those whom he finds alert, even if he comes at midnight or just before dawn.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.
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But know this, if the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he wouldn't have allowed his home to be broken into.
40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
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You also must be ready, because the Human One is coming at a time when you don't expect him."
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
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Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?"
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
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The Lord replied, “Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time?
43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
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Happy are the servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes.
44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
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I assure you that the master will put them in charge of all his possessions.
45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
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“But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk.
46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
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The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren't expecting him, at a time they couldn't predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful.
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.
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That servant who knew his master's will but didn't prepare for it or act on it will be beaten severely.
48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
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The one who didn't know the master's will but who did things deserving punishment will be beaten only a little. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!
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"I came to cast fire upon the earth. How I wish that it was already ablaze!
50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.
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I have a baptism I must experience. How I am distressed until it's completed!
51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!
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Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I have come instead to bring division.
52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
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From now on, a household of five will be divided—three against two and two against three.
53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ ”
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Father will square off against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.
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Jesus also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud forming in the west, you immediately say, ‘It's going to rain.' And indeed it does.
55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.
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And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘A heat wave is coming.' And it does.
56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
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Hypocrites! You know how to interpret conditions on earth and in the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret the present time?
57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?
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And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.
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As you are going to court with your accuser, make your best effort to reach a settlement along the way. Otherwise, your accuser may bring you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. ”
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I tell you, you won't get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible