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Luke

Offers a detailed narrative of Jesus' life from birth to ascension, highlighting His compassion and focus on the marginalized.

Chapter 14

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1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

*One day, when Jesus went to a top Pharisee's home for a meal on the Sabbath, they kept an eye on him.

2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

*And, look, there was a man in front of him who had a skin disease causing swelling.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

*Jesus replied to the lawyers and Pharisees, asking, "Is it allowed to heal on the Sabbath?"

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

*And they stayed quiet. He then took the person, healed them, and let them leave.

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

*He asked them, "If any of you has a donkey or an ox that falls into a hole, wouldn't you immediately rescue them on the Sabbath day?"

6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

*They were unable to respond to what he said.

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

*He told a story to the guests as he noticed them choosing the best seats, saying, "You think you're better than others and seek the best places."

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

*When you're invited to a wedding by someone, don't sit in the best seat; otherwise, a more important person might be invited and you'll have to move.

9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

*And the person who invited you and him says, let this man have a spot; then you, in shame, would start by taking the worst room.

10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

*But when you're invited, go and sit in the lowest spot; so when the host comes, they can tell you to move up, and then you'll be able to worship with those eating together.

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

*If you boast about yourself, you'll be brought down. But if you are humble, you'll be lifted up.

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

*Then he said, "When you have a meal, don't invite your friends, family, or wealthy neighbors. They might invite you back, and you'll just owe them favors."

13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

*But when you have a party, invite the poor, the hurt, the disabled, the blind.

14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

*You will be blessed because they cannot repay you. You will be rewarded when the righteous are raised again.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

*When someone eating with Jesus heard what was said, they exclaimed, "Blessed is the person who will eat bread in God's kingdom!"

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

*Then he said, A person hosted a large dinner and invited many guests.

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

*At dinner time, he sent his helper to tell the invited guests, "Come, because everything is prepared."

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

*And everyone agreed at once to give an excuse. The first person said, "I bought some land and need to go check it out. Please excuse me."

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

*One person said, "I bought five pairs of oxen to test them out, so please let me go."

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

*One person said, "I got a wife now, so I can't join."

21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

*So the servant did as he was told, and showed his lord what happened. When the master got mad, he told his servant to quickly go into the city's streets and lanes and bring back the poor, injured, disabled, and blind.

22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

*The servant said, "Lord, I did what you asked, and there's still space left."

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

*And the Lord told the servant, "Go to the streets and fences, and bring people in by force. This way, my home will be full.

24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

*For I tell you, those invited won't get to eat my meal.

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

*A large group followed him, and he turned to them and said,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

*If someone comes to me but still loves their father, mother, spouse, kids, siblings, and even themselves too much, they can't be my follower.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

*And whoever doesn't carry their own burden and follow me, can't be my follower.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

*Which one of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't sit down first and figure out the cost to see if you have enough to complete it?

29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

*So that, if after laying the foundation he cannot complete it, those who watch can't help but make fun of him.

30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

*He started constructing but couldn't complete it.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

*Which king, before fighting another king, doesn't sit down first to think about if he can win with 10,000 soldiers when the other king has 20,000?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

*Or, when the other is far away, he sends a messenger to ask for peace terms.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

*Therefore, anyone among you who does not give up everything they have cannot be my follower.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

*Salt is useful, but if it loses its flavor, how can it be made tasty again?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*This verse means that something is not suitable for either the ground or a pile of waste, so people reject it. Those who can listen and understand should pay attention.

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