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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 16

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1 And 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.

*He told his followers a story about a wealthy man with a manager. The manager was blamed for wasting the man's belongings.

2 And 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.

*He asked him, "Why have I heard something bad about you? Explain your management actions because you might not be the manager anymore."

3 Then 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.

*Then the steward thought, What should I do? My lord is taking away my job as a steward. I can't dig and I'm too proud to beg.

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

*I have decided what to do, so when I lose my job, they can let me stay at their homes.

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

*So, he invited all of his lord's debtors and asked the first one, "How much do you owe my lord?"

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

*He said, "One hundred measures of oil." Then he told him, "Quickly take your pen, and write fifty."

7 Then 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.

*Then he asked another, "How much do you owe?" The person replied, "A hundred measures of wheat." So, he told him, "Go ahead and write 80 on your bill."

8 And 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.

*The Lord praised the dishonest manager because he was smart. People in this world often understand things better than those who follow God.

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

*I tell you this: build relationships using wealth from unjust sources. That way, when you're in need, they'll welcome you into a lasting place.

10 He 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.

*If you are trustworthy with small things, you will be trustworthy with big things too. But if you are dishonest with small things, you will be dishonest with big things as well.

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

*If you haven't been faithful with the money you have, why would anyone trust you with real wealth?

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

*If you haven't been trustworthy with someone else's things, who will give you your own things?

13 No 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.

*A worker can't serve two bosses. He will either dislike one and like the other, or he will prioritize one and disrespect the other. You can't serve both God and wealth.

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

*The Pharisees, who wanted more for themselves, heard everything he said and made fun of him.

15 And 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.

*He told them, "You think you're right with people, but God sees your true selves. What people value is hated by God."

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

*The Old Testament was valid until John appeared. After that, people started preaching the Kingdom of God, and everyone wants to be part of it.

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

*It's simpler for the sky and ground to disappear than for even the smallest part of the law to be wrong.

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

*Whoever leaves their spouse, marries someone else, is committing adultery; and whoever marries a person left by their spouse also commits adultery.

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

*A wealthy man dressed in fancy clothes and enjoyed luxurious meals every day.

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

*There was a beggar named Lazarus, lying at the gate with many sores.

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

*Wanting to eat the leftovers from the wealthy person's meal, and also, dogs came to lick his wounds.

22 And 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;

*Then, the beggar passed away and was taken by angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

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

*In hell, he looked up while suffering and saw Abraham far away, along with Lazarus close to him.

24 And 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.

*He shouted, "Father Abraham, please help me! Send Lazarus to wet his finger in water and touch my tongue. This fire is hurting me too much."

25 But 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.

*But Abraham told him, "Son, remember that you had good things while you were alive, just like Lazarus had bad things. But now, Lazarus is comfortable and happy, while you are in pain and suffering."

26 And 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.

*In addition, there's a big gap between us, making it impossible for you to come over here, and also preventing us from going to your side.

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

*Then he asked, "So, Dad, please send him to my family's home."

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

*So I have five siblings; he must tell them so they don't end up here in this place of suffering.

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

*Abraham tells him, "They have Moses and prophets; they should listen to them."

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

*He replied, "No, Father Abraham. But if someone came back to life, they would change their minds."

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

*He told him, "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be convinced even if someone comes back to life."

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