Luke 16, side by side

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

Modern

1He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

Classic

1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Modern

2He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

Classic

2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Modern

3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.

Classic

3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

Modern

4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’

Classic

4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

Modern

5Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’

Classic

5So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

Modern

6He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

Classic

6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Modern

7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Classic

7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

Modern

8“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.

Classic

8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Modern

9I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.

Classic

9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Modern

10He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Classic

10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Modern

11If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Classic

11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Modern

12If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

Classic

12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

Modern

13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”

Classic

13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Modern

14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.

Classic

14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Modern

15He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Classic

15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Modern

16The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Classic

16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Modern

17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.

Classic

17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Modern

18Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

Classic

18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Modern

19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.

Classic

19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Modern

20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,

Classic

20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Modern

21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Classic

21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Modern

22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.

Classic

22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Modern

23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

Classic

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Modern

24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’

Classic

24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Modern

25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish.

Classic

25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Modern

26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’

Classic

26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Modern

27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house;

Classic

27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

Modern

28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’

Classic

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Modern

29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

Classic

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Modern

30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

Classic

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Modern

31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ ”

Classic

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

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