Luke, 20

1. And it came to pass, [that] on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon [him] with the elders,

1. One day when Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law came with the elders of the Jews,

2. And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

2. and said to him, "Tell us, what right have you to act like this? Who gives you authority to do all this?"

3. And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

3. Jesus said to them, "I also will ask you a question; tell me:

4. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

4. Was John's preaching and baptism a work of God, or was it merely something human?"

5. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

5. And they argued among themselves, "If we answer that it was a work of God, he will say: 'Why then did you not believe him?'

6. But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

6. But if we answer that it was merely something human, all the people will stone us, for they all regard John as a prophet."

7. And they answered, that they could not tell whence [it was].

7. So they answered Jesus, "We don't know,"

8. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

8. and Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you what right I have to act like this."

9. Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

9. Jesus went on to tell the people this parable, "A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants before going abroad for a long time.

10. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent [him] away empty.

10. In due time he sent a servant to the tenants to get some fruit from the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him back empty-handed.

11. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated [him] shamefully, and sent [him] away empty.

11. Again the man sent another servant; they beat him as well and treated him shamefully and finally sent him away empty-handed.

12. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast [him] out.

12. The owner then sent a third, but this one was wounded and thrown out.

13. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence [him] when they see him.

13. The owner then thought: 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; surely they will respect him.'

14. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

14. The tenants, however, as soon as they had seen him, said to one another: 'This is the one who will inherit the vineyard; let us kill him and the property will be ours.'

15. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed [him]. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

15. So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

16. He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard [it], they said, God forbid.

16. Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." On hearing this, some of the rulers said, "May it not be so!"

17. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

17. Then Jesus looked directly at them and said, "What does this text of the Scriptures mean: The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone.

18. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

18. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces and anyone the stone falls on will be crushed?"

19. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

19. The teachers of the Law and the chief priests would have liked to arrest him right there, for they realized that Jesus meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd.

20. And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

20. So they left, looking for another opportunity. They sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him in his words and deliver him to the authority and power of the Roman governor.

21. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person [of any], but teachest the way of God truly:

21. They asked him, "Master, we know that you are true in your words and your teaching, and your answers do not vary according to who is listening to you, for you truly teach the way of God. Tell us:

22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

22. are we allowed to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

23. But Jesus saw through their cunning and said,

24. Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

24. "Show me a silver coin. Whose head is this and whose name?" They answered, "Caesar's."

25. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

25. And Jesus said to them "Return to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God what is God's."

26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

26. So they were unable to trap him in what he said in public: they were surprised at his answer and kept silent.

27. Then came to [him] certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

27. Then some Sadducees arrived. These people claim that there is no resurrection

28. Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

28. and they asked Jesus this question, "Master, in the Scripture Moses told us: 'If anyone dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife, and the child to be born will be regarded as the child of the deceased man.'

29. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

29. Now, there were seven brothers; the first married a wife, but he died without children;

30. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

30. and the second

31. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

31. and the third took the wife; in fact all seven died leaving no children.

32. Last of all the woman died also.

32. Last of all the woman died.

33. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

33. On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be wife? For the seven had her as wife."

34. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

34. And Jesus replied, "Taking husband or wife is proper to people of this world,

35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

35. but for those who are considered worthy of the world to come and of resurrection from the dead, there is no more marriage.

36. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

36. Besides, they cannot die for they are like the angels. They too are sons and daughters of God because they are born of the resurrection.

37. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

37. Yes, the dead will be raised, and even Moses implied it in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

38. For he is God of the living and not of the dead, and for him all are alive."

39. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

39. Some teachers of the Law then agreed with Jesus, "Master, you have spoken well."

40. And after that they durst not ask him any [question at all].

40. They didn't dare to ask him anything else.

41. And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?

41. Then Jesus said to them, "How can people say that the Messiah is the son of David?

42. And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

42. For David says in the book of Psalms: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right

43. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

43. until I put your enemies under your feet.

44. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

44. David here calls him Lord; how then can he be his son?"

45. Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

45. Jesus also said to his disciples before all the people,

46. Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

46. "Beware of these teachers of the Law who like to be seen in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to take the reserved seats in the synagogues and places of honor at feasts.

47. Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

47. They even devour the property of widows while making a show of long prayers. They will receive a very severe sentence!"