^12:22Then⁵² Jesus⁵³ said to his⁵⁴ disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry⁵⁵ about your⁵⁶ life, what you will eat, or about your⁵⁷ body, what you will wear. ^12:23For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. ^12:24Consider the ravens:⁵⁸ They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds⁵⁹ them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! ^12:25And which of you by worrying⁶⁰ can add an hour to his life?⁶¹^12:26So if⁶² you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about⁶³ the rest?

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Footnotes

52 Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. Jesus’ remarks to the disciples are an application of the point made in the previous parable.
53 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
54 αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) is lacking in 𝔓45vid,75 B 1241 c e. Although the addition of clarifying pronouns is a known scribal alteration, in this case it is probably better to view the dropping of the pronoun as the alteration in light of its minimal attestation.
55 Or “do not be anxious.”
56 Most (𝔓45 Ψ 070 f13 33 𝔐) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although several important and early witnesses omit it (𝔓75 א A B D L Q W Θ f1 700 2542 lat). Externally, the shorter reading is superior. Internally, the pronoun looks to be a scribal clarification. In context the article can be translated as a possessive pronoun anyway ( ), as it has been done for this translation.
57 Some (B 070 f13 33 1424 ) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although the witnesses for the omission are early, important, and varied (𝔓45vid,75 א A D L Q W Θ Ψ f1 𝔐 lat). See previous note for more discussion.
58 Or “crows.” Crows and ravens belong to the same family of birds. English uses “crow” as a general word for the family. Palestine has several indigenous members of the crow family.
59 Or “God gives them food to eat.” L&N 23.6 has both “to provide food for” and “to give food to someone to eat.”
60 Or “by being anxious.”
61 Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, pēchus) can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [ ] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (hēlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς. Most scholars take the term to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see 1.a for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.
62 This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
63 Or “why are you anxious for.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

NLTNew Living Translation

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, or for your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds? And which of you by being anxious is able to add an hour to his life span? If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest?

KJV 1900King James Version

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

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