Luke 14:30

NETBible

They will say, 1  ‘This man 2  began to build and was not able to finish!’ 3 

NIV ©

saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

NASB ©

saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

NLT ©

They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!’

MSG ©

'He started something he couldn't finish.'

BBE ©

And saying, This man made a start at building and is not able to make it complete.

NRSV ©

saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

NKJV ©

"saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

KJV
Saying
<3004> (5723)_,
This
<3754> <3778>
man
<444>
began
<756> (5662)
to build
<3618> (5721)_,
and
<2532>
was
<2480> (0)
not
<3756>
able
<2480> (5656)
to finish
<1615> (5658)_.
NASB ©
saying
<3004>
, 'This
<3778>
man
<444>
began
<757>
to build
<3618>
and was not able
<2480>
to finish
<1615>
.'
NET [draft] ITL
They will say
<3004>
, ‘This
<3778>
man
<444>
began
<756>
to build
<3618>
and
<2532>
was
<2480>
not
<3756>
able
<2480>
to finish
<1615>
!’
GREEK
legontev
<3004> (5723)
V-PAP-NPM
oti
<3754>
CONJ
outov
<3778>
D-NSM
o
<3588>
T-NSM
anyrwpov
<444>
N-NSM
hrxato
<756> (5662)
V-ADI-3S
oikodomein
<3618> (5721)
V-PAN
kai
<2532>
CONJ
ouk
<3756>
PRT-N
iscusen
<2480> (5656)
V-AAI-3S
ektelesai
<1615> (5658)
V-AAN
NETBible

They will say, 1  ‘This man 2  began to build and was not able to finish!’ 3 

NET Notes

1 tn Grk “make fun of him, saying.”

2 sn The phrase this man is often used in Luke in a derogatory sense; see “this one” and expressions like it in Luke 5:21; 7:39; 13:32; 23:4, 14, 22, 35.

3 sn The failure to finish the building project leads to embarrassment (in a culture where avoiding public shame was extremely important). The half completed tower testified to poor preparation and planning.