Luke 12:26-50

²⁶If then you are not able to do such a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷Consider the lilies—how they grow. They do not labor, neither do they spin. Yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

²⁸If God so clothes the grass in the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

²⁹Do not look for what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

³⁰For all the nations of the world look for these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

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

³²Do not fear, little flock, because your Father is very pleased to give you the kingdom.

³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make for yourselves purses which will not wear out—treasure in the heavens that does not run out, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys.

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

³⁵Let your long clothing be tucked in at your belt, and let your lamps be kept burning,

³⁶and be like people looking for their master when he returns from the marriage feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open the door for him.

³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the master will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will tuck in his long clothing at his belt, and have them sit down at the table, and he will come and serve them.

³⁸If the master comes in the second watch of the night, or if even in the third watch, and finds them ready, blessed are those servants.

³⁹But understand this, that if the master of the house had known the hour the thief was coming he would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁰Be ready also, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man comes.”

⁴¹Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable only to us, or also to everyone?”

⁴²The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his lord will set over his other servants to give them their portion of food at the right time?

⁴³Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing that when he comes.

⁴⁴Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his property.

⁴⁵But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his return,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink, and to become drunk,

⁴⁶the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and appoint a place for him with the unfaithful.

⁴⁷That servant, having known his lord's will, and not having prepared or done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

⁴⁸But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating, he will be beaten with a few blows. But everyone who has been given much, from them much will be required, and the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

⁴⁹I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled.

⁵⁰But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is completed!