^12:36be like people⁸⁷ waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,⁸⁸ so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ^12:37Blessed are those slaves⁸⁹ whom their master finds alert⁹⁰ when he returns! I tell you the truth,⁹¹ he will dress himself to serve,⁹² have them take their place at the table,⁹³ and will come⁹⁴ and wait on them!⁹⁵^12:38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night⁹⁶ and finds them alert,⁹⁷ blessed are those slaves!⁹⁸

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Footnotes

87 That is, like slaves (who are mentioned later, vv. 37–38), although the term ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) is used here. Since in this context it appears generic rather than gender-specific, the translation “people” is employed.
88 An ancient wedding celebration could last for days (Tob 11:18).
89 See the note on the word “slave” in .
90 Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.
91 Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
92 See v. 35 (same verb).
93 Grk “have them recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
94 The participle παρελθών (parelthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
95 He … will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18–27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.
96 The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.
97 Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.
98 Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants.

NLTNew Living Translation

as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And you, be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes back and knocks, they can open the door for him immediately. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by and serve them. Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find them like this, blessed are they!

KJV 1900King James Version

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

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