Luke 16

1 Now Jesus ^{a16:1 Lit. he} was saying to the disciples, “A rich man had a servant manager who was accused of wasting his assets.ISV — Luke 16:1

2 So he called for him and asked him, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You can’t be my manager any longer. Now give me a report about your management!’ISV — Luke 16:2

3 “Then the servant manager told himself, ‘What should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. I’m not strong enough to plow, and I’m ashamed to beg.ISV — Luke 16:3

4 I know what I’ll do so that people ^{b16:4 Lit. they} will welcome me into their homes when I’m dismissed from my job.’ISV — Luke 16:4

5 “So he called for each of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ISV — Luke 16:5

6 The man replied, ‘A hundred jars of olive oil.’ The manager ^{c16:6 Lit. He} told him, ‘Get your bill. Sit down quickly and write “50.”’ISV — Luke 16:6

7 Then he asked another debtor, ^{d16:7 The Gk. lacks debtor} ‘How much do you owe?’ The man replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ The manager ^{e16:7 Lit. He} told him, ‘Get your bill and write “80.”’ISV — Luke 16:7

8 The master praised the dishonest servant manager for being so clever, because worldly people ^{f16:8 Lit. the sons of this age} are more clever than enlightened people ^{g16:8 Lit. the sons of light} in dealing with their own. ^{h16:8 Lit. own generation}ISV — Luke 16:8

9 “I’m telling you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they will welcome you into eternal homes. ^{i16:9 Lit. tents}ISV — Luke 16:9

10 Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot.ISV — Luke 16:10

11 So if you haven’t been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?ISV — Luke 16:11

12 And if you haven’t been faithful with what belongs to foreigners, who will give you what is your own?ISV — Luke 16:12

13 “No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!” ( )ISV — Luke 16:13

14 Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus. ^{j16:14 Lit. him}ISV — Luke 16:14

15 So he told them, “You try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts, because what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.ISV — Luke 16:15

16 “The Law and the Prophets remained ^{k16:16 The Gk. lacks remained} until John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone entering it is under attack.ISV — Luke 16:16

17 However, it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be dropped.ISV — Luke 16:17

18 Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”ISV — Luke 16:18

19 “Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day.ISV — Luke 16:19

20 A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate.ISV — Luke 16:20

21 He was always trying to satisfy his hunger with what fell ^{l16:21 Other mss. read the scraps that fell} from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs used to come and lick his sores.ISV — Luke 16:21

22 “One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.ISV — Luke 16:22

23 In the afterlife, ^{m16:23 Lit. Hades, i.e. the realm of the dead} where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side.ISV — Luke 16:23

24 So he shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.’ISV — Luke 16:24

25 “But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, ^{n16:25 Lit. good things} while Lazarus received hardships. ^{o16:25 Lit. and Lazarus in like manner evil things} But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer.ISV — Luke 16:25

26 Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.’ISV — Luke 16:26

27 “The rich man ^{p16:27 Lit. He} said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus ^{q16:27 Lit. him} to my father’s house—ISV — Luke 16:27

28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t end up in this place of torture, too.’ISV — Luke 16:28

29 “Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!’ISV — Luke 16:29

30 “But the rich man ^{r16:30 Lit. he} replied, ‘No, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.’ISV — Luke 16:30

31 “Then Abraham ^{s16:31 Lit. he} told him, ‘If your brothers ^{t16:31 Lit. If they} do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.’”ISV — Luke 16:31