Luke 12:26

THE MESSAGE

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?

Easy-to-Read Version
And if you can't do the little things, why worry about the big things?

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

²²He continued this subject with his disciples. "Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. ²⁵"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? ²⁹"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. ³³"Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. ³⁵"Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He'll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake—and so blessed! ³⁹"You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn't have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. So don't you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don't expect him, the Son of Man will show up."

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.