35 Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning, 36 And be like men who are waiting for their master to return home from the marriage feast, so that when he returns from the wedding and comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and 1 to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them! 38 If he comes in the second watch (before midnight) or the third watch (after midnight), and finds them so, blessed (happy, fortunate, and 2 to be envied) are those servants! 39 But of this be assured: if the householder had known at what time the burglar was coming, he would have been awake and alert and watching and would not have permitted his house to be dug through and broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a 3 moment when you do not anticipate it.
41 Peter said, Lord, are You telling this parable for us, or for all alike? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his master will set over those in his household service to supply them their allowance of food at the appointed time? 43 Blessed (happy and 4 to be envied) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will set him in charge over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, My master is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants and the maids and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he does not know, and will punish him and cut him off and assign his lot with 5 the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many [lashes]. 48 But he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.