^10:38Now as they went on their way, Jesus¹²⁸ entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.¹²⁹^10:39She¹³⁰ had a sister named Mary, who sat¹³¹ at the Lord’s feet¹³² and listened to what he said. ^10:40But Martha was distracted¹³³ with all the preparations she had to make,¹³⁴ so¹³⁵ she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care¹³⁶ that my sister has left me to do all the work¹³⁷ alone? Tell¹³⁸ her to help me.” ^10:41But the Lord¹³⁹ answered her,¹⁴⁰ “Martha, Martha,¹⁴¹ you are worried and troubled¹⁴² about many things, ^10:42but one thing¹⁴³ is needed. Mary has chosen the best¹⁴⁴ part; it will not be taken away from her.”

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Luke 10:41–42: But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Footnotes

128 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
129 Most have “into the house” (𝔓3vid א C L Ξ 33 579 ) or “into her house” (א1 A C2 D W Θ Ψ 070 f1, 13 𝔐 lat) at the end of the sentence. But the English translation masks the multitude of variants: Different forms of “house” (οἰκίαν [oikian], οἶκον [oikon]) and “her” occur (see ). These variations argue against authenticity; they no doubt arose because of the abrupt ending of the sentence (the Greek is more literally translated simply as “Martha received him”), prompting copyists to add the location. The shorter reading is found in 𝔓45, 75 B sa. For the meaning “to welcome, to have as a guest” see L&N 34.53.
130 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
131 This reflexive makes it clear that Mary took the initiative in sitting by Jesus.
132 The description of Mary sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to him makes her sound like a disciple (compare Luke 8:35).
133 The term distracted means “to be pulled away” by something (L&N 25.238). It is a narrative comment that makes clear who is right in the account.
134 Grk “with much serving.”
135 Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the following was a result of Martha’s distraction.
136 The negative οὐ (ou) used with the verb expects a positive reply. Martha expected Jesus to respond and rebuke Mary.
137 Grk “has left me to serve alone.”
138 The conjunction οὖν (oun, “then, therefore”) has not been translated here.
139 Most (A B* C D W Θ Ψ f1, 13 𝔐 it) read “Jesus” instead of “the Lord” here, but κύριος (kurios, “Lord”) has the support of some weighty papyri, uncials, and other witnesses (𝔓3, [45],75 א B2 L 579 892 lat sa).
140 Grk “answering, said to her.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered her.”
141 The double vocative Martha, Martha communicates emotion.
142 Or “upset.” Here the meanings of μεριμνάω (merimnaō) and θορυβάζομαι (thorubazomai) reinforce each other (L&N 25.234).
143 Or, with some (𝔓3 [א] B C2 L 070vid f1 33 [579] ), “few things are needed—or only one” (as well as other variants). The textual problem here is a difficult one to decide. The shorter reading is normally preferred, but it is not altogether clear how the variants would arise from it. However, the reading followed in the translation has good support (with some internal variations) from a number of witnesses (𝔓45, 75 A C* W Θ Ψ f13 𝔐 lat sa).
144 Or “better”; Grk “good.” This is an instance of the positive adjective used in place of the superlative adjective. According to , this could also be treated as a positive for comparative (“better”).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

NLTNew Living Translation

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha welcomed him. And she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus and was listening to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached and said, “Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things! But few things are necessary, or only one thing, for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

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