12:35 “Get dressed for service 1 and keep your lamps burning; 2 12:36 be like people 3 waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, 4 so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 12:37 Blessed are those slaves 5 whom their master finds alert 6 when he returns! I tell you the truth, 7 he will dress himself to serve, 8 have them take their place at the table, 9 and will come 10 and wait on them! 11 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night 12 and finds them alert, 13 blessed are those slaves! 14 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief 15 was coming, he would not have let 16 his house be broken into. 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 17
12:41 Then 18 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 19 12:42 The Lord replied, 20 “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, 21 whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, 22 to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 12:43 Blessed is that slave 23 whom his master finds at work 24 when he returns. 12:44 I tell you the truth, 25 the master 26 will put him in charge of all his possessions. 12:45 But if 27 that 28 slave should say to himself, 29 ‘My master is delayed 30 in returning,’ and he begins to beat 31 the other 32 slaves, both men and women, 33 and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 12:46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, 34 and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 35 12:47 That 36 servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked 37 will receive a severe beating. 12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will 38 and did things worthy of punishment 39 will receive a light beating. 40 From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, 41 and from the one who has been entrusted with much, 42 even more will be asked. 43
12:49 “I have come 44 to bring 45 fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled! 12:50 I have a baptism 46 to undergo, 47 and how distressed I am until it is finished! 12:51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 48 12:52 For from now on 49 there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 12:53 They will be divided, 50 father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
12:54 Jesus 51 also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, 52 you say at once, ‘A rainstorm 53 is coming,’ and it does. 12:55 And when you see the south wind 54 blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 12:56 You hypocrites! 55 You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how 56 to interpret the present time?
12:57 “And 57 why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 12:58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, 58 make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, 59 and the officer throw you into prison. 12:59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!” 60