Luke 19:21

King James Version

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
because I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’

King James Version (1611)
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest vp that thou layedst not downe, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

English Standard Version
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

New American Standard Bible
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

New Century Version
I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't plant.'

Amplified Bible
'I was [always] afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.'

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'

Legacy Standard Bible
for I was afraid of you, because you are a strict man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'

Berean Standard Bible
For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.'

Contemporary English Version
You are a hard man, and I was afraid of you. You take what isn't yours, and you harvest crops you didn't plant."

Complete Jewish Bible
because I was afraid of you — you take out what you didn't put in, and you harvest what you didn't plant.'

Darby Translation
For I feared thee because thou art a harsh man: thou takest up what thou hast not laid down, and thou reapest what thou hast not sowed.

Easy-to-Read Version
I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't grow.'

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I feared thee, because thou art a straight man: thou takest vp, that thou layedst not downe, and reapest that thou diddest not sowe.

George Lamsa Translation
For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you pick up what you have not laid down, and you reap what you have not sown.

Good News Translation
I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.'

Lexham English Bible
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man—you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow!'

Literal Translation
For I feared you, because you are an exacting man, taking what you did not lay down, and reaping what you did not sow.

American Standard Version
for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.

Bible in Basic English
Because I was in fear of you, for you are a hard man: you take up what you have not put down, and get in grain where you have not put seed.

Hebrew Names Version
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'

International Standard Version
because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn't deposit and harvest what you didn't plant.'Matthew 25:24;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For I feared thee, because thou art a hard man, taking up what thou hadst not laid down, and reaping what thou sowedst not.

Murdock Translation
For I was afraid of thee, because thou art a hard man, and takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou sowedst not.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I feared thee, because thou art a strayte man: Thou takest vp that thou laydest not downe, & reapest that thou dyddest not sowe.

English Revised Version
for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

World English Bible
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layest not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y dredde thee, for thou art `a sterne man; thou takist awey that that thou settidist not, and thou repist that that thou hast not sowun.

Update Bible Version
for I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that which you did not lay down, and reap that which you did not sow.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layedst not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

New English Translation
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.'

New King James Version
For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

New Living Translation
I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn't yours and harvesting crops you didn't plant.'

New Life Bible
I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take what you have not put down. You gather where you have not planted.'

New Revised Standard
for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For I was afraid of thee, because, a harsh man, thou art, - Thou takest up, what thou layedst not down, and reapest, what thou sowedst not!

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down: and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.

Revised Standard Version
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
for I feared the because thou arte a strayte man: thou takest vp that thou laydest not doune and repest that thou dyddest not sowe.

Young's Literal Translation
for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I was afrayed of the, for thou art an harde man, thou takest vp yt thou hast not layed downe, and reapest that thou hast not sowne.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I was in fear of you, knowing you to be a hard master, who exact what you never gave, and reap where you have never sown.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I didn't want to make you mad because you take credit for what you didn't do and ride horses that you didn't start.'

Contextual Overview

¹¹ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. ²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I feared: Exodus 20:19, Exodus 20:20, 1 Samuel 12:20, Matthew 25:24, Matthew 25:25, Romans 8:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, James 2:10, 1 John 4:18

because: 1 Samuel 6:19-21, 2 Samuel 6:9-11, Job 21:14, Job 21:15, Ezekiel 18:25-29, Malachi 3:14, Malachi 3:15, Romans 8:7, Jude 1:15

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 1:27 - The Lord hated us Ezekiel 33:17 - General Luke 15:29 - yet Luke 16:2 - for John 4:37 - One

Cross-References

Genesis 4:7
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 18:24
Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Genesis 19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Genesis 19:9
And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

Genesis 19:15
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Genesis 19:16
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Psalms 34:15
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalms 102:17
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

Psalms 145:19
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I feared thee,.... Not with a right fear, with a fear of his goodness, who had bestowed such an excellent gift on him; for this would have taught him to have departed from evil, and have put him on doing his master's will, and making use of his gift to his glory: his fear was not of the right kind, and was ill grounded, as appears by what follows:

because thou art an austere man; cruel and uncompassionate to his servants, and hard to be pleased; than which nothing is more false, since it is evident, that Christ is compassionate both to the bodies and souls of men; is a merciful high priest, and is one that has compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, and cannot but be touched with the feeling of his people's infirmities; and is mild and gentle in his whole deportment, and in all his administrations:

thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow; suggesting, that he was covetous of that which did not belong to him, and withheld what was due to his servants, and rigorously exacted service that could not be performed; a most iniquitous charge, since none so liberal as he, giving gifts, grace and glory, freely; imposing no grievous commands on men; his yoke being easy, and his burden light; never sending a man to a warfare at his own charge; but always giving grace and strength proportionable to the service he calls to, and rewarding his servants in a most bountiful manner, infinitely beyond their deserts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

An austere man - Hard, severe, oppressive. The word is commonly applied to unripe fruit, and means “sour,” unpleasant; harsh. In this case it means that the man was taking every advantage, and, while “he” lived in idleness, was making his living out of the toils of others.

Thou takest up ... - Thou dost exact of others what thou didst not give. The phrase is applied to a man who “finds” what has been lost by another, and keeps it himself, and refuses to return it to the owner. All this is designed to show the sinner’s view of God. He regards him as unjust, demanding more than man has “power” to render, and more, therefore, than God has a “right” to demand. See the notes at Matthew 25:24.