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

1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven 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

2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Classic

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

Modern

3What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from 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

4I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

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 show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. 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

6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet 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

7And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more 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

8I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him 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 whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Classic

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

Modern

10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes 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 you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to 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 at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

Classic

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

Modern

13Someone in the crowd 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 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

Classic

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

Modern

15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

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

16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

Classic

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

Modern

17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere 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

18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up 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

19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. 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

20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

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

21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Classic

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

Modern

22Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about 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

23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Classic

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

Modern

24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the 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

25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Classic

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

Modern

26So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry 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 how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned 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

28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, 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

29And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

Classic

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

Modern

30For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

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 His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Classic

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

Modern

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased 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 your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no 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 your heart will be also.

Classic

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

Modern

35Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

Classic

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

Modern

36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

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 master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on 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

38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

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 understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house 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

40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

Classic

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

Modern

41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

Classic

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

Modern

42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

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 whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Classic

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

Modern

44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Classic

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

Modern

45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

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

46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

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 knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

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 the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

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

49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how 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 undergo, 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 bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Classic

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

Modern

52From now on, five in one household will be 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 mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against 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

54Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what 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

55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.

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 sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present 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

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

Classic

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

Modern

58Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may 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 not get out 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.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.