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¹ In the mean time, when the tens of thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one on another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Take heed to yourselves [and stay away] from the leaven which is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.² But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.³ Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed on the housetops.⁴ And I say to you my friends, Don't be afraid of those that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.⁵ But I will warn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for $20? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid: you are of more value than many sparrows.⁸ And I say to you, Every one who shall confess me before men, the Son of man shall also confess him before the angels of God:⁹ but he that denies me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.¹⁰ And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.¹¹ And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say:¹² for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.

¹³ And one out of the multitude said to him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.¹⁴ But he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?¹⁵ And he said to them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all greed: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.¹⁶ And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:¹⁷ and he reasoned to himself, saying, What shall I do, because I don't have a place to bestow my fruits?¹⁸ And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there I will bestow all my grain and my goods.¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.²⁰ But God said to him, You foolish one, this [is] the night they demand back your soul from you; and the things which you have prepared, whose shall they be?²¹ So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

²² And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Don't be anxious for [your] life, what you shall eat; nor yet for [your] body, what you shall put on.²³ For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.²⁴ Consider the ravens, that they do not sow, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feeds them: of how much more value are you than the birds!²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to the measure of his life?²⁶ If then you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest?²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil, neither do they spin; yet I say to you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which today is [here], and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more [he shall clothe] you, O you of little faith?²⁹ And don't you seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, neither be of doubtful mind.³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knows that you have need of these things.³¹ Yet seek his kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.³² Don't be afraid, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.³³ Sell that which you have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which do not wax old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief draws near, neither moth destroys.³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.³⁵ Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;³⁶ and be yourselves like men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may right away open to him.³⁷ Blessed are those slaves, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.³⁸ And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find [them] so, blessed are those [slaves].³⁹ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken through.⁴⁰ You also be ready: for in an hour that you do not think the Son of man comes.

⁴¹ And Peter said, Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or even to all?⁴² And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?⁴³ Blessed is that slave, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.⁴⁴ Of a truth I say to you, that he will set him over all that he has.⁴⁵ But if that slave shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the male slaves and the female slaves, and to eat and drink, and to be drunk;⁴⁶ the lord of that slave shall come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour when he does not know, and shall cut him apart, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.⁴⁷ And that slave, who knew his lord's will, and did not make ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];⁴⁸ but he that did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. And to whoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him they will ask the more.⁴⁹ I came to cast fire on the earth; and how I want that it were already kindled!⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am straitened until it is accomplished!⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:⁵² for there shall be from now on five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.⁵³ They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.

⁵⁴ And he said to the multitudes also, When you see the cloud rising in the west, right away you say, There comes a shower; and so it comes to pass.⁵⁵ And when [you see] a south wind blowing, you say, There will be a scorching heat; and it comes to pass.⁵⁶ You hypocrites, you know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that you don't know how to interpret this time?⁵⁷ And why even of yourselves don't you judge what is right?⁵⁸ For as you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, on the way work hard to be released from him; lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge shall deliver you to the officer, and the officer shall cast you into prison.⁵⁹ I say to you, You shall by no means come out from there, until you have paid the very last dollar.