^24:42“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day⁶⁰ your Lord will come. ^24:43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief⁶¹ was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. ^24:44Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.⁶²

The Faithful and Wise Slave

^24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise slave,⁶³ whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves⁶⁴ their food at the proper time? ^24:46Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work⁶⁵ when he comes. ^24:47I tell you the truth,⁶⁶ the master⁶⁷ will put him in charge of all his possessions.

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Footnotes

60 Most later (L 0281 𝔐 lat) have here ὥρᾳ (hōra, “hour”) instead of ἡμέρα (hemera, “day”). Although the merits of this reading could be argued either way, in light of the overwhelming and diverse early support for ἡμέρᾳ ({א B C D W Δ Θ f13 33 892 1424, as well as several versions and fathers}), the more general term is surely correct.
61 On Jesus pictured as a returning thief, see 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.
62 Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it would take some time—so long, in fact, that some will not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).
63 See the note on the word “slave” in .
64 Grk “give them.”
65 That is, doing his job, doing what he is supposed to be doing.
66 Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
67 Grk “he”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

NLTNew Living Translation

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know what day your Lord is coming! But understand this: that if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.

“Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their food at the right time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he comes back. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

KJV 1900King James Version

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

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