^14:28For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down⁹⁰ first and compute the cost⁹¹ to see if he has enough money to complete it? ^14:29Otherwise,⁹² when he has laid⁹³ a foundation and is not able to finish the tower,⁹⁴ all who see it⁹⁵ will begin to make fun of⁹⁶ him. ^14:30They will say,⁹⁷ ‘This man⁹⁸ began to build and was not able to finish!’⁹⁹^14:31Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down¹⁰⁰ first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose¹⁰¹ the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

Read in Logos

Footnotes

90 The participle καθίσας (kathisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
91 The first illustration involves checking to see if enough funds exist to build a watchtower. Both ψηφίζω (psēphizō, “compute”) and δαπάνη (dapanē, “cost”) are economic terms.
92 Grk “to complete it, lest.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation and ἵνα μήποτε (hina mēpote, “lest”) has been translated as “Otherwise.”
93 The participle θέντος (thentos) has been taken temporally.
94 The words “the tower” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
95 The word “it” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
96 Or “mock,” “ridicule.” The person who did not plan ahead becomes an object of joking and ridicule.
97 Grk “make fun of him, saying.”
98 The phrase this man is often used in Luke in a derogatory sense; see “this one” and expressions like it in Luke 5:21; 7:39; 13:32; 23:4, 14, 22, 35.
99 The failure to finish the building project leads to embarrassment (in a culture where avoiding public shame was extremely important). The half completed tower testified to poor preparation and planning.
100 The participle καθίσας (kathisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
101 On the meaning of this verb see also L&N 55.3, “to meet in battle, to face in battle.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?

NLTNew Living Translation

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand.

KJV 1900King James Version

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Public Domain