^12:18Then⁴⁵ he said, ‘I⁴⁶ will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ^12:19And I will say to myself,⁴⁷ “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!” ’ ^12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life⁴⁸ will be demanded back from⁴⁹ you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’⁵⁰

Read in Logos

Footnotes

45 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
46 Note how often the first person pronoun is present in these verses. The farmer is totally self absorbed.
47 Grk “to my soul,” which is repeated as a vocative in the following statement, but is left untranslated as redundant.
48 Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (psuchē) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.
49 Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaiteō), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment ( 1).
50 Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

NLTNew Living Translation

Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your life is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’

KJV 1900King James Version

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Public Domain