12 ³⁵ 'Be ready for action, with belts fastened and lamps alight. 12 ³⁶ Be like men who wait for their master's return from a wedding-party, ready to let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 12 ³⁷ Happy are those servants whom the master finds on the alert when he comes. I tell you this: he will fasten his belt, seat them at table, and come and wait on them. 12 ³⁸ Even if it is the middle of the night or before dawn when he comes, happy they if he finds them alert. 12 ³⁹ And remember, if the householder had known what time the burglar was coming he would not have let his house be broken into. 12 ⁴⁰ Hold yourselves ready, then, because the Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect him.'

12 ⁴¹ Peter said, 'Lord, do you intend this parable specially for us or is it for everyone?' 12 ⁴² The Lord said, 'Well, who is the trusty and sensible man whom his master will appoint as his steward, to manage his servants and issue their rations at the proper time? 12 ⁴³ Happy that servant who is found at his task when his master comes! 12 ⁴⁴ I tell you this: he will be put in charge of all his master's property. 12 ⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, "The master is a long time coming", and begins to bully the menservants and maids, and eat and drink and get drunk; 12 ⁴⁶ then the master will arrive on a day that servant does not expect, at a time he does not know, and will cut him in pieces. Thus he will find his place among the faithless.
12 ⁴⁷ 'The servant who knew his master's wishes, yet made no attempt to carry them out, will be flogged severely. 12 ⁴⁸ But one who did not know them and earned a beating will be flogged less severely. Where a man has been given much, much will be expected of him; and the more a man has had entrusted to him the more he will be required to repay.