Luke 19:21

Young's Literal Translation

for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
because I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’

King James Version (1611)
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest vp that thou layedst not downe, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

King James Version
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

English Standard Version
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

New American Standard Bible
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

New Century Version
I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't plant.'

Amplified Bible
'I was [always] afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.'

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'

Legacy Standard Bible
for I was afraid of you, because you are a strict man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'

Berean Standard Bible
For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.'

Contemporary English Version
You are a hard man, and I was afraid of you. You take what isn't yours, and you harvest crops you didn't plant."

Complete Jewish Bible
because I was afraid of you — you take out what you didn't put in, and you harvest what you didn't plant.'

Darby Translation
For I feared thee because thou art a harsh man: thou takest up what thou hast not laid down, and thou reapest what thou hast not sowed.

Easy-to-Read Version
I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't grow.'

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I feared thee, because thou art a straight man: thou takest vp, that thou layedst not downe, and reapest that thou diddest not sowe.

George Lamsa Translation
For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you pick up what you have not laid down, and you reap what you have not sown.

Good News Translation
I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.'

Lexham English Bible
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man—you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow!'

Literal Translation
For I feared you, because you are an exacting man, taking what you did not lay down, and reaping what you did not sow.

American Standard Version
for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.

Bible in Basic English
Because I was in fear of you, for you are a hard man: you take up what you have not put down, and get in grain where you have not put seed.

Hebrew Names Version
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'

International Standard Version
because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn't deposit and harvest what you didn't plant.'Matthew 25:24;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For I feared thee, because thou art a hard man, taking up what thou hadst not laid down, and reaping what thou sowedst not.

Murdock Translation
For I was afraid of thee, because thou art a hard man, and takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou sowedst not.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I feared thee, because thou art a strayte man: Thou takest vp that thou laydest not downe, & reapest that thou dyddest not sowe.

English Revised Version
for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

World English Bible
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layest not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y dredde thee, for thou art `a sterne man; thou takist awey that that thou settidist not, and thou repist that that thou hast not sowun.

Update Bible Version
for I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that which you did not lay down, and reap that which you did not sow.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layedst not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

New English Translation
For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.'

New King James Version
For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

New Living Translation
I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn't yours and harvesting crops you didn't plant.'

New Life Bible
I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take what you have not put down. You gather where you have not planted.'

New Revised Standard
for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For I was afraid of thee, because, a harsh man, thou art, - Thou takest up, what thou layedst not down, and reapest, what thou sowedst not!

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down: and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.

Revised Standard Version
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
for I feared the because thou arte a strayte man: thou takest vp that thou laydest not doune and repest that thou dyddest not sowe.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I was afrayed of the, for thou art an harde man, thou takest vp yt thou hast not layed downe, and reapest that thou hast not sowne.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I was in fear of you, knowing you to be a hard master, who exact what you never gave, and reap where you have never sown.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I didn't want to make you mad because you take credit for what you didn't do and ride horses that you didn't start.'

Contextual Overview

¹¹ And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest. ¹² He said therefore, `A certain man of birth went on to a far country, to take to himself a kingdom, and to return, <sup>13</sup> and having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business -- till I come; <sup>14</sup> and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us. <sup>15</sup> `And it came to pass, on his coming back, having taken the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what any one had done in business. ¹⁶ `And the first came near, saying, Sir, thy pound did gain ten pounds; <sup>17</sup> and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities. <sup>18</sup> `And the second came, saying, Sir, thy pound made five pounds; ¹⁹ and he said also to this one, And thou, become thou over five cities. ²⁰ `And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I feared: Exodus 20:19, Exodus 20:20, 1 Samuel 12:20, Matthew 25:24, Matthew 25:25, Romans 8:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, James 2:10, 1 John 4:18

because: 1 Samuel 6:19-21, 2 Samuel 6:9-11, Job 21:14, Job 21:15, Ezekiel 18:25-29, Malachi 3:14, Malachi 3:15, Romans 8:7, Jude 1:15

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 1:27 - The Lord hated us Ezekiel 33:17 - General Luke 15:29 - yet Luke 16:2 - for John 4:37 - One

Cross-References

Genesis 4:7
Is there not, if thou dost well, acceptance? and if thou dost not well, at the opening a sin-offering is crouching, and unto thee its desire, and thou rulest over it.'

Genesis 12:2
And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.

Genesis 18:24
peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty -- the righteous who [are] in its midst?

Genesis 19:8
lo, I pray you, I have two daughters, who have not known any one; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do to them as [is] good in your eyes; only to these men do not anything, for therefore have they come in within the shadow of my roof.'

Genesis 19:9
And they say, `Come nigh hither;' they say also, `This one hath come in to sojourn, and he certainly judgeth! now, we do evil to thee more than [to] them;' and they press against the man, against Lot greatly, and come nigh to break the door.

Genesis 19:15
And when the dawn hath ascended, then the messengers press upon Lot, saying, `Rise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters who are found present, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.'

Genesis 19:16
And he lingereth, and the men lay hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, through the mercy of Jehovah unto him, and they bring him out, and cause him to rest without the city.

Psalms 34:15
The eyes of Jehovah [are] unto the righteous, And His ears unto their cry.

Psalms 102:17
He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.

Psalms 145:19
The desire of those fearing Him He doth, And their cry He heareth, and saveth them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I feared thee,.... Not with a right fear, with a fear of his goodness, who had bestowed such an excellent gift on him; for this would have taught him to have departed from evil, and have put him on doing his master's will, and making use of his gift to his glory: his fear was not of the right kind, and was ill grounded, as appears by what follows:

because thou art an austere man; cruel and uncompassionate to his servants, and hard to be pleased; than which nothing is more false, since it is evident, that Christ is compassionate both to the bodies and souls of men; is a merciful high priest, and is one that has compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, and cannot but be touched with the feeling of his people's infirmities; and is mild and gentle in his whole deportment, and in all his administrations:

thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow; suggesting, that he was covetous of that which did not belong to him, and withheld what was due to his servants, and rigorously exacted service that could not be performed; a most iniquitous charge, since none so liberal as he, giving gifts, grace and glory, freely; imposing no grievous commands on men; his yoke being easy, and his burden light; never sending a man to a warfare at his own charge; but always giving grace and strength proportionable to the service he calls to, and rewarding his servants in a most bountiful manner, infinitely beyond their deserts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

An austere man - Hard, severe, oppressive. The word is commonly applied to unripe fruit, and means “sour,” unpleasant; harsh. In this case it means that the man was taking every advantage, and, while “he” lived in idleness, was making his living out of the toils of others.

Thou takest up ... - Thou dost exact of others what thou didst not give. The phrase is applied to a man who “finds” what has been lost by another, and keeps it himself, and refuses to return it to the owner. All this is designed to show the sinner’s view of God. He regards him as unjust, demanding more than man has “power” to render, and more, therefore, than God has a “right” to demand. See the notes at Matthew 25:24.