Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

Those slaves whom their master finds being watchful when he returns are [certainly] blessed. Truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt [i.e., get things ready] and have them recline [at his dinner table] and will come and serve them.

New American Standard Bible

Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.

King James Version

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Holman Bible

Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.

International Standard Version

How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them.

A Conservative Version

Blessed are those bondmen whom the lord when he comes will find watching. Truly I say to you, that he will gird himself, and will cause them to sit down, and having come, will serve them.

American Standard Version

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.

Amplified

Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he arrives. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will prepare himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them.

Anderson New Testament

Blessed are those servants whom their lord, when he comes, shall find watching. Verily I say to you, That he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and will come forth and serve them.

Bible in Basic English

Happy are those servants who are watching when the lord comes; truly I say to you, he will make himself their servant and, placing them at the table, he will come out and give them food.

Common New Testament

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and will come and serve them.

Daniel Mace New Testament

happy those servants, whom the master at his arrival shall find thus watching: I assure you, he shall gird himself, and make them sit at table, and will come to serve them.

Darby Translation

Blessed are those bondmen whom the lord on coming shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and coming up will serve them.

Godbey New Testament

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord having come will find watching: truly I say unto you, that he will gird himself, and have them sit down, and having come will serve them.

Goodspeed New Testament

Blessed are the slaves whom their master will find on the watch when he comes. I tell you, he will gird up his robe and make them take their places at table, and go around and wait on them.

John Wesley New Testament

Happy are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching; verily I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to table, and will come forth and serve them.

Julia Smith Translation

Happy those servants, whom the Lord having come shall find watching; truly I say to you, he will gird himself, and make them recline, and having come he will serve them.

King James 2000

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to eat, and will come forth and serve them.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Blessed [are] those slaves whom the master will find on the alert [when he] returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by [and] serve them.

Modern King James verseion

Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you that he shall gird himself and make them recline; and coming up he will serve them.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Happy are those servants, which their Lord, when he cometh, shall find waking; Verily I say unto you, he will gird himself about, and make them sit down to meat, and walk by them, and minister unto them.

Moffatt New Testament

Blessed are those servants whom the lord and master finds awake when he comes! I tell you truly, he will gird himself, make them recline at table, and come forward to wait on them.

Montgomery New Testament

"Happy are those slaves whom their master shall find watching when he comes. I tell you truly that will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and come and serve them.

NET Bible

Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them!

New Heart English Bible

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.

Noyes New Testament

Happy are those servants, whom their lord when he cometh shall find watching; truly do I say to you, that he will gird himself, and place them at table, and will come and wait on them.

Sawyer New Testament

Blessed are those servants whom their lord when he comes shall find watching. I tell you truly, that he will gird himself, and cause them to recline, and he will come and wait upon them.

The Emphasized Bible

Happy those servants, whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching! Verily, I say unto you - he will gird himself, and make them recline, and, coming near, will minister unto them.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

Blessed are those servants, whom the Master, when he cometh, shall find watchful: verily I say unto you, that he will gird up himself, and make them sit down at table, and come and wait upon them.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon them.

Webster

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them to sit down to eat, and will come forth and serve them.

Weymouth New Testament

Blessed are those servants, whom their Master when He comes shall find on the watch. I tell you in solemn truth, that He will tie an apron round Him, and will bid them recline at table while He comes and waits on them.

Williams New Testament

Happy are those slaves whom the master, when he comes, will find on the watch for him. I solemnly say to you, he will tighten his belt and have them sit at table, and he will go around and wait on them.

World English Bible

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.

Worrell New Testament

Happy are those servants, whom their lord, when coming, shall find watching! Verily I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them recline; and, coming near, he will serve them.

Worsley New Testament

Happy are those servants, whom the master when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down, and will come and serve them.

Youngs Literal Translation

'Happy those servants, whom the lord, having come, shall find watching; verily I say to you, that he will gird himself, and will cause them to recline (at meat), and having come near, will minister to them;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
μακάριος 
Makarios 
Usage: 21

ἐκεῖνος 
Ekeinos 
that, those, he, the same, they,
Usage: 148

δοῦλος 
Doulos 
Usage: 65

ὅς ἥ ὅ 
Hos 
Usage: 980

the lord
κύριος 
Kurios 
Usage: 643

ἔρχομαι 
Erchomai 
come, go, , vr come
Usage: 424

εὑρίσκω 
heurisko 
find,
Usage: 130

γρηγορεύω 
Gregoreuo 
Usage: 6

ἀμήν 
amen 
Usage: 48

I say
λέγω 
Lego 
Usage: 1045

ὑμῖν 
Humin 
you, ye, your, not tr,
Usage: 293

ὅτι 
Hoti 
Usage: 764

περιζώννυμι 
Perizonnumi 
Usage: 4

and



and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
Usage: 0
Usage: 0

ἀνακλίνω 
Anaklino 
Usage: 5


Usage: 0

to sit down to meat
ἀνακλίνω 
Anaklino 
Usage: 5

will come forth
παρέρχομαι 
Parerchomai 
Usage: 13

and serve
διακονέω 
Diakoneo 
Usage: 25

References

Context Readings

On The Alert For The Master's Return

36 and be like men expecting their master to return from the wedding reception, so that when he does come and knock [at the groom's house, See note on Matt. 25:1-12], they will immediately open [the door] to him. 37 Those slaves whom their master finds being watchful when he returns are [certainly] blessed. Truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt [i.e., get things ready] and have them recline [at his dinner table] and will come and serve them. 38 And if he comes between nine o'clock and midnight or between midnight and three o'clock in the morning and finds them being watchful, those slaves will be blessed [for doing so].


Cross References

Matthew 24:42

Therefore be alert, for you do not know on what day the Lord will come.

Matthew 24:45-47

"Who then, is the trustworthy and sensible slave, to whom his master has assigned the management of his household to provide timely meals for its members?

Matthew 25:20-23

The one who had been given five talents came bringing another five and reported, 'Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I have earned five more with them.'

Luke 12:43

That servant will be happy when his master returns to find him doing [his job] well.

Luke 17:8

Would you not say to him instead, 'Prepare the food for my meal [first] and get ready to serve me until I have had enough to eat and drink and [then] afterward you can eat and drink [yourself]'?

Luke 21:36

But you should be alert at all times, offering earnest prayers, so that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen, and to appear [acceptable] in front of the Son of man [on that day]."

John 12:26

If any person wants to serve me, he should become my follower; and wherever I am, my servant will be there also. If any person serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 13:4-5

So, He got up from the dinner table, laid aside His [outer] clothing and took a towel and wrapped it around Himself.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written [Isa. 64:4], "The things which no eye saw or ear heard, and which did not [even] enter the mind of men, is what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Philippians 1:21

For life to me is Christ, and if I die, it would be gain.

Philippians 1:23

So, I am in a dilemma between the two choices. [On the one hand] I have the desire to depart [from this life] and be with Christ [in heaven], which would be far better.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good battle; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith [i.e., I have been true to my commitment].

1 Peter 5:1-4

So, the elders in the various places where you live, are to receive the following exhortation. (I too, am an elder and have witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and am also assured of partaking of the glorious [salvation, 1:5] that will someday be revealed).

2 Peter 1:11

For in this way, you will be provided with a rich welcome into the never ending kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [i.e., in heaven].

2 Peter 3:14

So, my dearly loved ones, while you are waiting for these things [to happen], do your best to be found at peace with God, pure and blameless in His sight.

Revelation 3:21

The person who has victory [in the Christian life], I will grant him [the privilege of] sitting down with me on my throne, as I also had victory and sat down with my Father on His throne.

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb, who is at the center of the throne, will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 14:3-4

And they [i.e., the 144,000] were singing a new song in front of God's throne, and in front of the four living beings and the [twenty-four] elders. No one could learn [to sing] this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand [See 7:4,9] who had been purchased from the earth.

Revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write [this]: Those who are [now] dead, who died in [fellowship with] the Lord, are blessed from now on. Yes, says the Holy Spirit, they will rest from their work, for [the record of] their deeds will follow them [i.e., into the next life]."

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain