35"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

36and 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.

37Blessed 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.

38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"

42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?

43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

45But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

47And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.