Luke 16 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 And he sayde also vnto his disciples, There was a certaine riche man, which had a stewarde, and he was accused vnto him, that he wasted his goods.
1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2 And hee called him, and saide vnto him, Howe is it that I heare this of thee? Giue an accounts of thy stewardship: for thou maiest be no longer steward.
2 He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3 Then the stewarde saide within himselfe, What shall I doe? for my master taketh away from me the stewardship. I cannot digge, and to begge I am ashamed.
3 “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4 I knowe what I will doe, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receiue mee into their houses.
4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
5 Then called he vnto him euery one of his masters detters, and said vnto the first, Howe much owest thou vnto my master?
5 Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
6 And he said, An hudreth measures of oyle. And he saide to him, Take thy writing, and sitte downe quickely, and write fiftie.
6 He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7 Then said he to another, How much owest thou? And hee sayde, An hundreth measures of wheate. Then he saide to him, Take thy writing, and write foure score.
7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8 And the Lord commended the vniust stewarde, because he had done wisely. Wherefore the children of this worlde are in their generation wiser then the children of light.
8 “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9 And I say vnto you, Make you friends with the riches of iniquitie, that when ye shall want, they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations.
9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10 He that is faithfull in the least, hee is also faithful in much: and he that is vniust in the least, is vniust also in much.
10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11 If then ye haue not ben faithful in the wicked riches, who wil trust you in the true treasure?
11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye haue not bene faithfull in another mans goods, who shall giue you that which is yours?
12 If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13 No seruaunt can serue two masters: for either he shall hate the one, and loue the other: or els he shall leane to the one, and despise the other. Yee can not serue God and riches.
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
14 All these thinges heard the Pharises also which were couetous, and they scoffed at him.
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
15 Then he sayde vnto them, Yee are they, which iustifie your selues before men: but God knoweth your heartes: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God.
15 He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 The Lawe and the Prophets endured vntill Iohn: and since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.
16 “The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17 Nowe it is more easie that heauen and earth shoulde passe away, then that one title of the Lawe should fall.
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
18 Whosoeuer putteth away his wife, and marieth another, committeth adulterie: and whosoeuer marieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adulterie.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
19 There was a certaine riche man, which was clothed in purple and fine linnen, and fared well and delicately euery day.
19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20 Also there was a certaine begger named Lazarus, which was laide at his gate full of sores,
20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
21 And desired to bee refreshed with the crommes that fell from the riche mans table: yea, and the dogges came and licked his sores.
21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it was so that the begger died, and was caried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome. The rich man also died, and was buried.
22 The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And being in hell in torments, he lift vp his eyes, and sawe Abraham a farre off, and Lazarus in his bosome.
23 In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24 Then he cried, and saide, Father Abraham, haue mercie on mee, and sende Lazarus that hee may dippe the tip of his finger in water, and coole my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
24 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 in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham saide, Sonne, remember that thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasures, and likewise Lazarus paines: now therefore is he comforted, and thou art tormented.
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.
26 Besides all this, betweene you and vs there is a great gulfe set, so that they which would goe from hence to you, can not: neither can they come from thence to vs.
26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 Then he said, I pray thee therfore, father, that thou wouldest sende him to my fathers house,
27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—
28 (For I haue fiue brethren) that he may testifie vnto them, least they also come into this place of torment.
28 for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 Abraham said vnto him, They haue Moses and the Prophets: let them heare them.
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 And he sayde, Nay, father Abraham: but if one came vnto them from the dead, they will amend their liues.
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 Then he saide vnto him, If they heare not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead againe.
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lazarus
The poor man covered with sores at the rich man's gate in a parable of Jesus, carried by angels to Abraham's side.
Cited in the guide: Luke 16:20
Cross references (30)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Peter 4:10; Matthew 25:14–30; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2; Luke 12:42; James 4:3
- 2 1 Samuel 2:23–24; Ecclesiastes 11:9–10; Revelation 20:12; 1 Peter 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10
- 3 Proverbs 27:23–27; Jeremiah 5:31; Luke 18:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:11; Proverbs 21:25–26
- 4 James 3:15; Jeremiah 4:22; Proverbs 30:9
- 5 Luke 7:41–42; Matthew 18:24
- 6 Titus 2:10; Luke 16:12; Luke 16:9
- 7 Luke 20:9; Luke 20:12; Song of Songs 8:11–12
- 8 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:8; John 12:36; Proverbs 6:6–8; Luke 16:10
- 9 Matthew 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:17–19; Daniel 4:27; Matthew 6:24; Proverbs 19:17
- 10 Luke 16:11–12; Matthew 25:21; Luke 19:17; Matthew 25:23; Hebrews 3:2
- 11 Luke 12:33; Proverbs 8:18–19; James 2:5; Ephesians 3:8; Luke 18:22
- 12 Luke 19:13–26; Job 1:21; Matthew 25:14–29; 1 Chronicles 29:14–16; 1 Peter 1:4–5
- 13 1 John 2:15–16; Matthew 6:24; James 4:4; Romans 8:5–8; Luke 14:26
- 14 Luke 23:35; Luke 12:15; Luke 20:47; Isaiah 56:11; Matthew 23:13
- 15 Proverbs 21:2; 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Jeremiah 17:10; Proverbs 16:5
- 16 Matthew 11:9–14; Matthew 21:32; Acts 3:24–25; Matthew 3:2; John 1:45
- 17 Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33; 1 Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8; Romans 3:31
- 18 Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11–12; Matthew 5:31–32; 1 Corinthians 7:10–12; 1 Corinthians 7:4
- 19 Ezekiel 16:49; Luke 18:24–25; Amos 6:4–6; James 5:1–5; Ezekiel 27:7
- 20 Acts 3:2; James 2:5; Job 2:7; 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 34:19
- 21 Matthew 15:27; Mark 7:28; John 6:12; 1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 11:27
- 22 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 49:16–19; Revelation 14:13; James 1:11; Matthew 18:10
- 23 2 Peter 2:4; Luke 16:28; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 18:9; Revelation 14:10–11
- 24 Revelation 22:1; John 4:10; John 4:14; Revelation 7:16–17; Matthew 25:41
- 25 Luke 6:24; 1 John 2:15; Psalm 17:14; Mark 9:45; Philippians 3:19
- 26 John 3:36; Psalm 49:14; Psalm 50:22; Malachi 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:4–10
- 28 Acts 2:40; Psalm 49:12–13; 1 Thessalonians 4:6; Acts 20:23
- 29 Acts 15:21; Luke 16:16; Luke 24:27; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21
- 30 Revelation 16:9–11; Luke 16:24; Luke 3:8; Luke 13:5; Luke 13:3
- 31 2 Corinthians 4:3; Acts 28:23; John 11:43–53; Acts 19:8; John 12:10–11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Our duty is to give to others the admonitions we have received ourselves. The recent lesson of the Gospel has admonished us to make friends of the mammon of iniquity, that they too may "receive" those who do so "into everlasting habitations." But who are they that shall have everlasting habitations, but the Saints of God?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
… exhibits Abraham as having said to the rich man, with reference to all those who were still alive: "If they do not obey Moses and the prophets, neither, if any one were to rise from the dead and go to them, will they believe him."
These are little things, but "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much." Nor can that possibly be void which proceedeth out of the mouth of Thy Truth.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And this I say, not that we may omit supplicating the saints, but to hinder our being careless, and entrusting our concerns to others only, while we fall back and slumber ourselves. For so when He said, "make to yourselves friends," he did not stop at this only, but He added, "of the unrighteous mammon;" that so again the good …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For how can a man become the one servant of two masters, when our Lord says in the Gospels, No man can serve two masters?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)