Luke 12, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Classic

1In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Modern

2But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

Classic

2For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Modern

3Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Classic

3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Modern

4“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Classic

4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Modern

5But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Classic

5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Modern

6“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.

Classic

6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Modern

7But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

Classic

7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Modern

8“I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God;

Classic

8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

Modern

9but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels.

Classic

9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Modern

10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Classic

10And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Modern

11When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;

Classic

11And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

Modern

12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”

Classic

12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Modern

13One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Classic

13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Modern

14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

Classic

14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Modern

15He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

Classic

15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Modern

16He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.

Classic

16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Modern

17He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’

Classic

17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Modern

18He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

Classic

18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Modern

19I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’

Classic

19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Modern

20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’

Classic

20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Modern

21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Classic

21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Modern

22He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

Classic

22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Modern

23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Classic

23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Modern

24Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

Classic

24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Modern

25Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?

Classic

25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

Modern

26If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

Classic

26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Modern

27Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Classic

27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Modern

28But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

Classic

28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Modern

29Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

Classic

29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Modern

30For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.

Classic

30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

Modern

31But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

Classic

31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Modern

32Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

Classic

32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Modern

33Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.

Classic

33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Modern

34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Classic

34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Modern

35“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.

Classic

35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Modern

36Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the wedding feast; that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.

Classic

36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Modern

37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them.

Classic

37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Modern

38They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.

Classic

38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Modern

39But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Classic

39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Modern

40Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”

Classic

40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Modern

41Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”

Classic

41Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

Modern

42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?

Classic

42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Modern

43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

Classic

43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Modern

44Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.

Classic

44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Modern

45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,

Classic

45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Modern

46then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.

Classic

46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Modern

47That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,

Classic

47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Modern

48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

Classic

48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Modern

49“I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.

Classic

49I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Modern

50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Classic

50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Modern

51Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.

Classic

51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Modern

52For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

Classic

52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

Modern

53They will 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.”

Classic

53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Modern

54He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.

Classic

54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

Modern

55When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.

Classic

55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Modern

56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?

Classic

56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Modern

57Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Classic

57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Modern

58For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Classic

58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

Modern

59I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.”

Classic

59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

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