Luke 12:26

Easy-to-Read Version

And if you can't do the little things, why worry about the big things?

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

King James Version (1611)
If yee then bee not able to doe that thing which is least, why take yee thought for the rest?

King James Version
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

English Standard Version
If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things?

New Century Version
If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things?

Amplified Bible
"So if you are not even able to do a very little thing [such as that], why are you worried about the rest?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Berean Standard Bible
So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Contemporary English Version
If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?

Complete Jewish Bible
If you can't do a little thing like that, why worry about the rest?

Darby Translation
If therefore ye cannot [do] even what is least, why are ye careful about the rest?

Geneva Bible (1587)
If yee then bee not able to doe the least thing, why take yee thought for the remnant?

George Lamsa Translation
So if you are not able to do the smaller thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Good News Translation
If you can't manage even such a small thing, why worry about the other things?

Lexham English Bible
If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest?

Literal Translation
Then if you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?

American Standard Version
If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?

Bible in Basic English
If, then, you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you troubled about the rest?

Hebrew Names Version
If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

International Standard Version
So if you can't do a small thing like that, why worry about other things?

Etheridge Translation
But if indeed you are not capable of (that which is) the least, why concerning the rest are you anxious ?

Murdock Translation
And if ye are impotent for that which is least, why are ye anxious about the rest?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least: why take ye thought for the remnaunt?

English Revised Version
If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?

World English Bible
If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If ye then be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Weymouth's New Testament
If then you are unable to do even a very little thing, why be over-anxious about other matters?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor if ye moun not that that is leest, what ben ye bisie of othere thingis?

Update Bible Version
If then you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest?

Webster's Bible Translation
If ye then are not able to do that thing which is least, why are ye anxious for the rest?

New English Translation
So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest?

New King James Version
If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

New Living Translation
And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?

New Life Bible
If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things?

New Revised Standard
If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If then, not even the least thing, ye can do, why, concerning the rest, are ye anxious?

Douay-Rheims Bible
If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest?

Revised Standard Version
If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yf ye then be not able to do that thinge which is least: why take ye thought for the remmaunt?

Young's Literal Translation
If, then, ye are not able for the least -- why for the rest are ye anxious?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Seinge then ye be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the other?

Mace New Testament (1729)
if then you can't effect so small a matter, why are you disquieted about a much longer time?

Simplified Cowboy Version
And if frettin' can't even fix a small problem, why are you wastin' all that time frettin' about the big stuff?

Contextual Overview

²² Jesus said to his followers, "So I tell you, don't worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat or what you will wear. ²³ Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. ²⁴ Look at the birds. They don't plant, harvest, or save food in houses or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than crows. ²⁵ None of you can add any time to your life by worrying about it. ²⁶ And if you can't do the little things, why worry about the big things? ²⁷ "Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. ²⁸ If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That's just grass—one day it's alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small! ²⁹ "So don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don't worry about it. ³⁰ That's what all those people who don't know God are always thinking about. But your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ What you should be thinking about is God's kingdom. Then he will give you all these other things you need.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

why: Luke 12:29, Psalms 39:6, Ecclesiastes 7:13, 1 Peter 5:7

Reciprocal: Matthew 6:25 - Take Matthew 6:27 - by

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If ye then be not able to do that which is least,.... As to make the smallest addition to a man's stature, or rather to add one moment to his days:

why take ye thought for the rest? which are much greater, as to preserve the body in its whole bulk, and all its parts, or for the feeding and clothing of it, or rather for the continuation and preservation of life to any length of time; for if it cannot be by all a man's care and solicitude lengthened out one moment longer than is the pleasure of God, how should it be by such anxiety continued for months and years?

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25-33.