54 And He was also saying to the crowds, (A)Whenever you see a cloud rising [a]in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And whenever you feel a [b]south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a (B)hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! (C)You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?

57 “And (D)why do you not even judge by yourselves what is right? 58 For (E)when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to [c]settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid up [d]the very last [e](F)lepton.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:54 I.e., from the Mediterranean
  2. Luke 12:55 I.e., from the desert
  3. Luke 12:58 Lit be rid of him
  4. Luke 12:59 Lit even the last
  5. Luke 12:59 The smallest Greek copper coin, about 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(A) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(B)

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(C) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(D)

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