Luke 12:21

Easy-to-Read Version

"This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure

King James Version (1611)
So is he that laieth vp treasure for himselfe, and is not rich towards God.

King James Version
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

English Standard Version
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

New American Standard Bible
"Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God."

New Century Version
"This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God."

Amplified Bible
"So it is for the one who continues to store up and hoard possessions for himself, and is not rich [in his relationship] toward God."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Legacy Standard Bible
So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Berean Standard Bible
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God."

Contemporary English Version
"This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God."

Complete Jewish Bible
That's how it is with anyone who stores up wealth for himself without being rich toward God."

Darby Translation
Thus is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
So is he that gathereth riches to himselfe, and is not riche in God.

George Lamsa Translation
Such is he who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich in the things in God.

Good News Translation
And Jesus concluded, "This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight."

Lexham English Bible
So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

Literal Translation
So is he treasuring up for himself, and not being rich toward God.

American Standard Version
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Bible in Basic English
So that is what comes to the man who gets wealth for himself, and has not wealth in the eyes of God.

Hebrew Names Version
So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

International Standard Version
That's how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself and isn't rich toward God."Matthew 6:20; Luke 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:18-19; James 2:5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
whose shall they be? So is he who layeth up to himself treasures, and towards Aloha is not rich.

Murdock Translation
Such is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich in God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So is he that gathereth riches to him selfe, and is not ryche towardes God.

English Revised Version
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

World English Bible
So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Weymouth's New Testament
"So is it with him who amasses treasure for himself, but has no riches in God."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
So is he that tresourith to hym silf, and is not riche in God.

Update Bible Version
So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Webster's Bible Translation
So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

New English Translation
So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God."

New King James Version
"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

New Living Translation
"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

New Life Bible
It is the same with a man who puts away riches for himself and does not have the riches of God."

New Revised Standard
So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So, is he that is laying up treasure for himself, and is not rich, towards God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.

Revised Standard Version
So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
So is it with him that gadereth ryches and is not ryche in God.

Young's Literal Translation
so [is] he who is treasuring up to himself, and is not rich toward God.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus goeth it with him yt gathereth treasure for himself, and is not riche in God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
such is he, who heaps up his treasure here, and makes no provision for another world.

THE MESSAGE
"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

Simplified Cowboy Version
So the moral of the story is not to waste your life on things, but store up treasure in heaven by a genuine ride with the Boss."

Contextual Overview

¹³ One of the men in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, our father just died and left some things for us. Tell my brother to share them with me." ¹⁴ But Jesus said to him, "Who said I should be your judge or decide how to divide your father's things between you two?" ¹⁵ Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own." ¹⁶ Then Jesus used this story: "There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' ¹⁸ "Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. ¹⁹ Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!' ²⁰ "But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?' ²¹ "This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he: Luke 12:33, Luke 6:24, Hosea 10:1, Habakkuk 2:9, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:20, Romans 2:5, 1 Timothy 6:19, James 5:1-3

rich: Luke 16:11, 2 Corinthians 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:18, 1 Timothy 6:19, James 2:5, Revelation 2:9

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:2 - only the spoil Job 27:8 - General Psalms 37:10 - wicked Psalms 39:6 - surely Proverbs 8:18 - durable Proverbs 16:16 - General Jeremiah 48:36 - the riches Matthew 13:12 - from Matthew 13:22 - the care Luke 8:18 - from Luke 12:18 - General Philippians 3:20 - our 1 Timothy 6:7 - certain 1 Peter 1:7 - that Revelation 3:18 - that thou

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,.... This is the accommodation of the parable. Just such a fool is he, and this will be the end or him, who employs all his thoughts, and spends all his time, in amassing to himself worldly riches and wealth, in laying up treasures on earth for himself, for futurity: and makes no use of his earthly substance to be the good of others; nor shows any concern for spiritual and eternal riches; but places all his hope, trust, and confidence, in uncertain riches:

and is not rich towards God; or "in God", as the Syriac and Arabic versions read; in things pertaining to God, in spiritual things, in faith, and in good works; and is not concerned to lay up a treasure in heaven, to have an interest in durable riches and righteousness; whereas one that is rich towards God, acknowledges that he receives all his riches from God, as the Ethiopic version reads; he gives up all into the hands of God, depends upon his providence for the increase, security, and continuance of it; and uses it to his honour and glory, and for the good of his interest; and is chiefly concerned for the riches of grace and glory; and enjoys much of God, and places all his riches in him: such a man is a wise man, but the reverse of this is the fool in the parable.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So is he - This is the portion or the doom.

Layeth up treasure for himself - Acquires riches for his own use - for “himself.” This is the characteristic of the covetous man. It is all for “himself.” His plans terminate there. He lives only for himself, and acts only with regard to his own interest.

Rich toward God - Has no inheritance in the kingdom of God - no riches laid up in heaven. His affections are all fixed on this world, and he has none for God.

From this instructive parable we learn:

1. That wicked people are often signally prospered - their ground brings forth plentifully. God gives them their desire, but sends leanness into their souls.

2. That riches bring with them always an increasing load of cares and anxieties.

3. That they steal away the affections from God - are sly, insinuating, and dangerous to the soul.

4. That the anxiety of a covetous man is not what “good” he may do with his wealth, but where he may hoard it, and keep it secure from doing any good.

5. That riches cannot secure their haughty owners from the grave. Death will come upon them suddenly, unexpectedly, awfully. In the very midst of the brightest anticipations - in a moment - in the twinkling of an eye it may come, and all the wealth that has been accumulated cannot alleviate one pang, or drive away one fear, or prolong life for one moment.

6. That the man who is trusting to his riches in this manner is a fool in the sight of God. Soon, also, he will be a fool in his “own” sight, and will go to hell with the consciousness that his life has been one of eminent folly.

7. That the path of true wisdom is to seek first the kingdom of God, and to be ready to die; and “then” it matters little what is our portion here, or how suddenly or soon we are called away to meet our Judge. If our affections are not fixed on our riches, we shall leave them without regret. If our treasures are laid up in heaven, death will be but “going home,” and happy will be that moment when we are called to our rest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 12:21. So is he — That is, thus will it be. This is not an individual case; all who make this life their portion, and who are destitute of the peace and salvation of God, shall, sooner or later, be surprised in the same way.

Layeth up treasure for himself — This is the essential characteristic of a covetous man: he desires riches; he gets them; he lays them up, not for the necessary uses to which they might be devoted, but for himself; to please himself, and to gratify his avaricious soul. Such a person is commonly called a miser, i.e. literally, a wretched, miserable man.