路加福音 12 – CCBT & NIRV

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

路加福音 12:1-59

警戒門徒

1這時,成千上萬的人聚集在一起,甚至互相踐踏。耶穌先對門徒說:「你們要提防法利賽人的酵,就是他們的偽善。 2掩蓋的事終會暴露出來,隱藏的秘密終會被人知道。 3你們在暗處說的,將在明處被人聽見;你們在密室裡的私語,將在屋頂上被人宣揚。

4「朋友們,我告訴你們,不要懼怕那些殺害人的身體後再也無計可施的人。 5我告訴你們應該懼怕誰,要懼怕上帝——祂有權終結人的生命,並把人丟在地獄裡。是的,我告訴你們,要懼怕祂!

6「五隻麻雀不是只賣兩個銅錢嗎?但上帝連一隻麻雀也不會遺忘。 7其實就連你們的頭髮都被數過了。不要害怕,你們比許多麻雀要貴重!

8「我告訴你們,凡在人面前承認我的,人子在上帝的天使面前也必承認他。 9凡在人面前否認我的,人子在上帝的天使面前也要否認他。 10說話得罪人子的,還可以得到赦免,但褻瀆聖靈的,必得不到赦免! 11當人押你們到會堂,或到官員和當權者面前時,不要顧慮如何辯解,或說什麼話, 12因為到時候聖靈必指示你們當說的話。」

無知富翁的比喻

13這時,人群中有人對耶穌說:「老師,請你勸勸我的兄長跟我分家產吧。」

14耶穌答道:「朋友,誰派我作你們的審判官或仲裁,為你們分家產呢?」 15接著,祂對眾人說:「你們要小心防範一切的貪心,因為人的生命並不在於家道富足。」

16耶穌又講了一個比喻,說:「有一個富翁,他的田裡大豐收, 17於是心裡盤算,『我儲藏農產的地方不夠了,怎麼辦呢?』 18於是他說,『不如把原有的倉庫拆掉,建幾座更大的,好儲藏我所有的糧食和財物! 19那時,我就可以對自己說,「你積存這麼多財產,一生享用不盡,現在大可高枕無憂、盡情地吃喝玩樂吧!」』 20但上帝對他說,『無知的人啊!今晚就要取走你的命!你所預備的一切留給誰享用呢?』」

21耶穌說:「這就是那些只顧為自己積財、在上帝面前卻不富足之人的寫照。」

不要為衣食憂慮

22耶穌繼續對門徒說:「所以,我告訴你們,不要為生活憂慮,如吃什麼,也不要為身體憂慮,如穿什麼。 23因為生命比飲食重要,身體比穿著重要。 24你們看,烏鴉不種也不收,沒倉也沒庫,上帝尚且養活牠們,你們比飛鳥不知要貴重多少!

25「你們誰能用憂慮使自己多活片刻呢? 26既然你們連這樣的小事都無能為力,又何必為其餘的事憂慮呢? 27看看百合花如何生長吧,它們既不勞苦,也不紡織,但我告訴你們,就連所羅門王最顯赫時的穿戴還不如一朵百合花!

28「野地的草今天還在,明天就要被丟在爐中,上帝還這樣裝扮它們,何況你們呢?你們的信心太小了! 29你們不要為吃什麼喝什麼憂慮, 30因為這些都是外族人的追求,你們的天父知道你們需要這些。 31你們要尋求祂的國,祂必供給你們的需要。

32「你們這一小群人啊,不要怕!因為你們的天父樂意把祂的國賜給你們。 33要變賣你們的家產去賙濟窮人,要為自己預備永不破損的錢袋,在天上積攢取之不盡的財寶,那裡沒有賊偷,也沒有蟲蛀。 34因為你們的財寶在哪裡,你們的心也在哪裡。

警醒預備

35「你們要束上腰帶,準備服侍,要點亮燈, 36像奴僕們等候主人從婚宴回來。主人回來一叩門,奴僕就可以立即給他開門。 37主人回來,看見奴僕警醒等候,奴僕就有福了!我實在告訴你們,主人必束上腰帶請他們坐席,並親自服侍他們。 38無論主人在深夜或黎明回家,若發現奴僕警醒等候,奴僕就有福了。

39「你們都知道,一家的主人若預先知道賊什麼時候來,一定不會讓賊入屋偷竊。 40同樣,你們也要做好準備,因為在你們意想不到的時候,人子就來了。」

忠僕和惡僕

41彼得問:「主啊!你這比喻是講給我們聽的,還是講給眾人聽的呢?」

42主說:「誰是那個受主人委託管理家中大小僕役、按時分糧食給他們、又忠心又精明的管家呢? 43主人回家時,看見他盡忠職守,他就有福了。 44我實在告訴你們,主人一定會把所有產業都交給他管理。 45但如果他以為主人不會那麼快回來,就毆打僕婢、吃喝醉酒, 46主人會在他想不到的日子、不知道的時辰回來,嚴厲地懲罰12·46 嚴厲地懲罰」或作「腰斬」。他,使他和不忠不信的人同受嚴刑。 47明知主人的意思卻不準備,也不遵行主人吩咐的僕人,必受更重的責打。 48但因不知道而做了該受懲罰之事的僕人,必少受責打。多給誰,就向誰多取;多託付誰,就向誰多要。

家庭分裂

49「我來是要把火丟在地上,我多麼希望這火已經燃燒起來。 50我有要受的『洗禮』,我何等迫切地想完成這『洗禮』啊! 51你們以為我來是要使天下太平嗎?不,我告訴你們,我來是要使地上起紛爭。 52從今以後,一家五口會彼此相爭,三個人反對兩個人,或是兩個人反對三個人, 53父子相爭,母女對立,婆媳反目。」

明辨是非

54然後,祂又對眾人說:「你們看見雲從西方升起,就說,『快下雨了!』果然如此。 55南風一起,你們就說,『天必燥熱』,你們也說對了。 56你們這些偽善的人!既然知道觀察天色、預測天氣,為什麼不知道觀察這個世代呢? 57你們為什麼不自己明辨是非呢? 58如果你和控告你的人要去對簿公堂,要盡量在路上跟對方和解,以免被拉到審判官面前,審判官派差役把你關進監牢。 59我告訴你,除非你付清所欠的每一分錢,否則休想出監牢。」

New International Reader’s Version

Luke 12:1-59

Jesus Gives Words of Warning and Hope

1During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another. Jesus spoke first to his disciples. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees,” he said. “They just pretend to be godly. 2Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.

4“My friends, listen to me. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t do any more than that. 5I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after you have been killed. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him. 6Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them. 7In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

8“What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say in front of God’s angels that he knows that person. 9But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I, the Son of Man, will say in front of God’s angels that I don’t know him. 10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11“You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say. 12The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

The Story of the Rich Fool

13Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “tell my brother to divide the family property with me.”

14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”

16Then Jesus told them a story. He said, “A certain rich man’s land produced a very large crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.’

18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store my extra grain in them. 19I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.” ’

20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Tonight I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21“That is how it will be for whoever stores things away for themselves but is not rich in the sight of God.”

Do Not Worry

22Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear. 23There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes. 24Think about the ravens. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t have any barns at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds! 25Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? 26You can’t do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?

27“Think about how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in his royal robes was dressed like one of those flowers. 28If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small! 29Don’t spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry about it. 30People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31But put God’s kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.

32“Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it. 34Your heart will be where your riches are.

Be Ready

35“Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning. 36Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready when he comes. What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will then dress himself so he can serve them. He will have them take their places at the table. And he will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning. 39But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.”

41Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?”

42The Lord answered, “Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of his other servants. The servant’s job is to give them the food they are to receive at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise manager for this. 43It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns. 44What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to come back.’ Suppose that servant begins to beat the other servants, both men and women. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk. 46The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn’t expect him. The master will return at an hour the servant doesn’t know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send the servant to the place where unbelievers go.

47“Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating. 48But suppose the servant does not know his master’s wishes. And suppose the servant does things for which he should be punished. He will receive a lighter beating. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much.

Jesus Will Separate People From One Another

49“I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish the fire had already started! 50But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I must go through it. 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people. 52From now on there will be five members in a family, each one against the other. There will be three against two and two against three. 53They will be separated. Father will turn against son and son against father. Mother will turn against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law will turn against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Understanding the Meaning of What Is Happening

54Jesus spoke to the crowd. He said, “You see a cloud rising in the west. Right away you say, ‘It’s going to rain.’ And it does. 55The south wind blows. So you say, ‘It’s going to be hot.’ And it is. 56You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can’t you understand the meaning of what is happening right now?

57“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don’t, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!”