Luke 12:38

NETBible

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night 1  and finds them alert, 2  blessed are those slaves! 3 

NIV ©

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

NASB ©

"Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

NLT ©

He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready!

MSG ©

It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake--and so blessed!

BBE ©

And if he comes in the second division of the night or in the third, and they are watching for him, happy are those servants.

NRSV ©

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

NKJV ©

"And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

KJV
And
<2532>
if
<1437>
he shall come
<2064> (5632)
in
<1722>
the second
<1208>
watch
<5438>_,
or
<2532>
come
<2064> (5632)
in
<1722>
the third
<5154>
watch
<5438>_,
and
<2532>
find
<2147> (5632)
[them] so
<3779>_,
blessed
<3107>
are
<1526> (5748)
those
<1565>
servants
<1401>_.
NASB ©
"Whether
<2579>
he comes
<2064>
in the second
<1208>
watch
<5438>
, or
<2579>
even
<2579>
in the third
<5154>
, and finds
<2147>

them
so
<3779>
, blessed
<3107>
are those
<1565>

slaves.
NET [draft] ITL
Even
<2579>
if he comes
<2064>
in
<1722>
the second
<1208>
or
<2579>

<1722>
third
<5154>
watch of the night
<5438>
and
<2532>
finds
<2147>
them alert, blessed
<3107>
are
<1510>
those slaves
<1565>
!
GREEK
kan en th deutera kan en th trith fulakh elyh eurh makarioi eisin
NETBible

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night 1  and finds them alert, 2  blessed are those slaves! 3 

NET Notes

1 sn 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.

2 tn Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.

3 tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.