READY FOR THE MASTER’S RETURN

35 “Be ready for service* and have your lamps lit.ag 36 You are to be like people waiting for their masterah to return from the wedding banquetai so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.aj 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alertak when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,D have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.al 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,E and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,am he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready,an because the Son of Manao is coming at an hour you do not expect.”ap

REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT

41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?”

42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible manageraq his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted foodar at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’as and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to piecesF and assign him a place with the unfaithful.G 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do itH will be severely beaten.at