Be in Readiness

35 [a](A)Be prepared, and keep your (B)lamps lit. 36 You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find (C)on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that (D)he will [b]prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. 38 (E)Whether he comes in the [c]second watch, or even in the [d]third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 (F)But [e]be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be (G)broken into. 40 (H)You too, be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think He will.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:35 Lit Have your waist belted
  2. Luke 12:37 Lit belt himself up
  3. Luke 12:38 I.e., 9 p.m. to midnight
  4. Luke 12:38 I.e., midnight to 3 a.m.
  5. Luke 12:39 Lit know

Watchfulness(A)(B)

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(C) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(D) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(E) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(F) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

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