Luke 6:25

New Century Version

How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry. How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
How bad it will be for you people who are full now, because you will be hungry. How bad it will be for you people who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wo be to you yt are full: for ye shall honger. Wo be to you that now laugh: for ye shall wayle and wepe.

Hebrew Names Version
Woe to you, you who are full now! For you will be hungry. Woe to you, you who laugh now! For you will mourn and weep.

International Standard Version
How terrible it will be for you who are full now,Proverbs 14:13; Isaiah 65:13;">[xr] for you will be hungry! How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and cry!

New American Standard Bible
"Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Update Bible Version
Woe to you, you that are full now! for you shall hunger. Woe [to you], you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Amplified Bible
"Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].

English Standard Version
"Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

World English Bible
"Woe to you, you who are full now! For you will be hungry. "Woe to you, you who laugh now! For you will mourn and weep.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wo to you that are full; for ye shall hunger: wo to you that laugh now; for ye shall mourn and weep.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Alas for you who now have plenty to eat, because you will be hungry! "Alas for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep aloud!

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wo to you that ben fulfillid, for ye schulen hungre. Wo to you that now leiyen, for ye schulen morne, and wepe.

English Revised Version
Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Berean Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Contemporary English Version
You well-fed people are in for trouble. You will go hungry! You people who are laughing now are in for trouble. You are going to cry and weep!

American Standard Version
Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Bible in Basic English
Unhappy are you who are full of food now: for you will be in need. Unhappy are you who are laughing now: for you will be crying in sorrow.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Woe to you who are full now, for you will go hungry! "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and cry!

Darby Translation
Woe to you that are filled, for ye shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.

Etheridge Translation
Woe to you (who are) full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall weep and lament.

Murdock Translation
Woe to you that are full; for ye will hunger. Woe to you that laugh now, for ye will weep and mourn.

King James Version (1611)
Woe vnto you that are full: for yee shall hunger. Woe vnto you that laugh now: for yee shall mourne and weepe.

New Living Translation
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

New Life Bible
It is bad for you who are full. You will be hungry. It is bad for you who laugh now. You will have sorrow and you will cry.

New Revised Standard
"Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wo be to you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Wo be to you that now laugh: for ye shal wayle and weepe.

George Lamsa Translation
Woe to you who are full! for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! for you will weep and mourn.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Alas! for you, ye who are filled full now, for ye shall hunger. Alas! ye that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.

Revised Standard Version
"Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. "Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wo vnto you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Wo vnto you that nowe laugh: for ye shall wayle and weepe.

Good News Translation
"How terrible for you who are full now; you will go hungry! "How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep!

Christian Standard Bible®
Woe to you who are now full,

King James Version
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Lexham English Bible
Woe to you who are satisfied now, because you will be hungry. Woe, you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep.

Literal Translation
Woe to you, those having been filled, for you will hunger! Woe to you, those laughing now, for you will mourn and lament!

Young's Literal Translation
`Wo to you who have been filled -- because ye shall hunger. `Wo to you who are laughing now -- because ye shall mourn and weep.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wo vnto you that are full, for ye shal honger. Wo vnto you that laugh here, for ye shal wepe and wayle.

Mace New Testament (1729)
wo unto you that are full: for you shall be in want. wo unto you that indulge in present pleasure: for mourning and sorrow shall attend you.

THE MESSAGE
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.

New English Translation
"Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

New King James Version
Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.

Simplified Cowboy Version
A bad day is comin' for those of you who are full, because one day you're going to starve. A bad day is comin' for those who laugh at misery, because one day you will be bawlin' like a baby.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

Legacy Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and cry.

Contextual Overview

²⁰ Jesus looked at his followers and said, "You people who are poor are blessed, because the kingdom of God belongs to you. ²¹ You people who are now hungry are blessed, because you will be satisfied. You people who are now crying are blessed, because you will laugh with joy. ²² "People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be blessed. ²³ Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets. ²⁴ "But how terrible it will be for you who are rich, because you have had your easy life. ²⁵ How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry. How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry. ²⁶ "How terrible when everyone says only good things about you, because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

full: Deuteronomy 6:11, Deuteronomy 6:12, 1 Samuel 2:5, Proverbs 30:9, Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 65:13, Philippians 4:12, Philippians 4:13, Revelation 3:17

hunger: Isaiah 8:21, Isaiah 9:20, Isaiah 65:13

laugh: Luke 8:53, Luke 16:14, Luke 16:15, Psalms 22:6, Psalms 22:7, Proverbs 14:13, Ecclesiastes 2:2, Ecclesiastes 7:3, Ecclesiastes 7:6, Ephesians 5:4, James 4:9

mourn: Luke 12:20, Luke 13:28, Job 20:5-7, Job 21:11-13, Psalms 49:19, Isaiah 21:3, Isaiah 21:4, Isaiah 24:7-12, Daniel 5:4-6, Amos 8:10, Nahum 1:10, Matthew 22:11-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 18:7-11

Reciprocal: Esther 5:9 - joyful Amos 6:1 - to them Matthew 5:4 - General Matthew 5:6 - are Luke 6:21 - ye that hunger John 6:35 - never hunger 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye are full 1 Corinthians 7:30 - that weep James 5:1 - weep

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Woe unto you that are full,.... Not so much with the plenty and affluence of the things of this life, as of themselves, and their own righteousness, and so with conceit, vanity, and pride, and have no appetite for spiritual things, nor do they hunger and thirst after Christ, and the grace that is in him:

for ye shall hunger; not that they shall truly and spiritually desire an interest in Christ, and his righteousness, or heaven and eternal life hereafter; but they shall be in starving and famishing circumstances; and whilst the saints are feeding upon the joys and glories of the other world, compared to a banquet, they shall be without, and have no share in these things; Isaiah 65:13.

Woe unto you that laugh now; at sin, rejoice in iniquity, make a mock at it, instead of mourning for it; or that glory in themselves, and in their righteousness, and rejoice in their boastings:

for ye shall mourn and weep; shall be cast into outer darkness, where are weeping, waiting, and gnashing of teeth; and for all the fire they have kindled, and sparks they have encompassed themselves with, and danced in and about, this they shall have at the hand of God, they shall lie down in sorrow, and ever continue in it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7.

Luke 6:21

That hunger now - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more fully what Luke has briefly, but there is no contradiction.

Luke 6:24-26

These verses have been omitted by Matthew. They seem to have been spoken to the Pharisees.

Who are rich - In this world’s goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them. It implies, farther, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud, and would not seek it; satisfied, and did not desire it; filled with cares, and had no time or disposition to attend to it. All the consolation which they had reason to expect they had received. Alas! how poor and worthless is such consolation, compared with that which the gospel would give!

Woe unto you that are full! - Not hungry. Satisfied with their wealth, and not feeling their need of anything better than earthly wealth can give. Many, alas! are thus “full.” They profess to be satisfied. They desire nothing but wealth, and a sufficiency to satisfy the wants of the body. They have no anxiety for the riches that shall endure forever.

Ye shall hunger - Your property shall be taken away, or you shall see that it is of little value; and then you shall see the need of something better. You shall feel your want and wretchedness, and shall “hunger” for something to satisfy the desires of a dying, sinful soul.

That laugh now - Are happy, or thoughtless, or joyful, or filled with levity.

Shall mourn and weep - The time is coming when you shall sorrow deeply. In sickness, in calamity, in the prospect of death, in the fear of eternity, your laughter shall be turned into sorrow. “There is” a place where you cannot laugh, and there you will see the folly of having passed the “proper time” of preparing for such scenes in levity and folly. Alas! how many thus spend their youth! and how many weep when it is too late! God gives them over, and “laughs” at their “calamity,” and mocks when their fear comes, Proverbs 1:26. To be happy in “such scenes,” it is necessary to be sober, humble, pious in early life. “Then” we need not weep in the day of calamity; then there will be no terror in death; then there will be nothing to fear in the grave.

Luke 6:26

When all men shall speak well of you - When they shall praise or applaud you. The people of the world will not praise or applaud “my” doctrine; they are “opposed” to it, and therefore, if they speak well of “you” and of “your teachings,” it is proof that you do not teach the true doctrine. If you do “not” do this, then there will be woe upon you. If men teach false doctrines for true; if they declare that God has spoken that which he has not spoken, and if they oppose what he “has” delivered, then heavy punishments will await them.

For so did their fathers - The fathers or ancestors of this people; the ancient Jews.

To the false prophets - Men who pretended to be of God - who delivered their “own” doctrines as the truth of God, and who accommodated themselves to the desires of the people. Of this number were the prophets of Baal, the false prophets who appeared in the time of Jeremiah, etc.

Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28

See Matthew 5:44-45.

Luke 6:29

See Matthew 5:39-40.

Luke 6:30

See Matthew 5:42.

Luke 6:31

See Matthew 7:12.

Luke 6:32-36

See Matthew 5:46-48.

Luke 6:37-42

See Matthew 7:1-9.

Luke 6:38

Good measure - They shall give you good measure, or “full” measure.

Pressed down - As figs or grapes might be, and thus many more might be put into the measure.

Shaken together - To make it more compact, and thus to give more.

Running over - So full that the measure would overflow.

Shall men give - This is said to be the reward of “giving” to the poor and needy; and the meaning is that the man who is liberal will find others liberal to him in dealing with them, and when he is also in circumstances of want. A man who is himself kind to the poor - who has that “character” established - will find many who are ready to help “him” abundantly when he is in want. He that is parsimonious, close, niggardly, will find few or none who will aid him.

Into your bosom - That is, to you. The word “bosom” here has reference to a custom among Oriental nations of making the bosom or front part of their garments large, so that articles could be carried in them, answering the purpose of our pockets. Compare Exodus 4:6-7; Proverbs 6:27; Ruth 3:15.

Luke 6:39

A parable - A proverb or similitude.

Can the blind lead the blind? - See the notes at Matthew 15:14.

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not ... - The learner is not above his teacher, does not know more, and must expect to fare no better. This seems to have been spoken to show them that they were not to expect that their disciples would go “beyond them” in attainments; that if they were blind, their followers would be also; and that therefore it was important for them to understand fully the doctrines of the gospel, and not to be blind leaders of the blind.

Every one that is perfect - The word rendered “is perfect” means sometimes to repair or mend, and is thus applied to mending nets, Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19. Hence, it means to repair or amend in a moral sense, or to make whole or complete. Here it means, evidently, “thoroughly instructed” or “informed.” The Christian should be like his Master - holy, harmless, and undefiled, and separate from sinners. He should copy his example, and grow into the likeness of his Redeemer. Nor can any other be a Christian.

Luke 6:41, Luke 6:42

See the notes at Matthew 7:3-5.

Luke 6:43, Luke 6:44

See the notes at Matthew 7:16-18.

Luke 6:45

This verse is not found in the sermon on the mount as recorded by Matthew, but is recorded by him in Matthew 12:35. See the notes at that passage.

Luke 6:46-49

See the notes at Matthew 7:21-27.