Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— New Living Translation “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. English Standard Version And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. Berean Standard Bible The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. Berean Literal Bible And the manager said in himself, ‘What shall I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I have no strength to dig; I am ashamed to beg. King James Bible Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. New King James Version “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. New American Standard Bible And the manager said to himself, ‘What am I to do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. NASB 1995 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. NASB 1977 “And the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. Legacy Standard Bible And the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. Amplified Bible The manager [of the estate] said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig [for a living], and I am ashamed to beg. Berean Annotated Bible The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master {kyrios} is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. Christian Standard Bible “Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. Holman Christian Standard Bible “Then the manager said to himself, What should I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. American Standard Version And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. Contemporary English Version The manager said to himself, "What shall I do now that my master is going to fire me? I can't dig ditches, and I'm ashamed to beg. English Revised Version And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. GOD'S WORD® Translation "The manager thought, 'What should I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg. Good News Translation The servant said to himself, 'My master is going to dismiss me from my job. What shall I do? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg. International Standard Version "Then the servant manager told himself, 'What should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. I'm not strong enough to plow, and I'm ashamed to beg. NET Bible Then the manager said to himself, 'What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm too ashamed to beg. New Heart English Bible "The manager said within himself, 'What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I do not have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. Webster's Bible Translation Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. Weymouth New Testament "Then the steward said within himself, "'What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. World English Bible “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the steward said in himself, What will I do, because my lord takes away the stewardship from me? I am not able to dig, I am ashamed to beg— Berean Literal Bible And the manager said in himself, ‘What shall I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I have no strength to dig; I am ashamed to beg. Young's Literal Translation 'And the steward said in himself, What shall I do, because my lord doth take away the stewardship from me? to dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed: -- Smith's Literal Translation And the steward said in himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes away the stewardship from me: I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. Catholic Public Domain Version And the steward said within himself: ‘What shall I do? For my lord is taking the stewardship away from me. I am not strong enough to dig. I am too ashamed to beg. New American Bible The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. New Revised Standard Version Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen the steward said to himself, What will I do? for my lord will take away from me the stewardship? I cannot dig, and I am ashamed to beg. Aramaic Bible in Plain English That steward said to himself, “What shall I do? My Lord has taken the stewardship from me; I cannot dig, and I am ashamed to beg.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes from me the stewardship. I have not strength to dig; I am ashamed to beg. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? because my master is taking away the stewardship from me: to dig, I have not the strength; to beg, I am ashamed. Mace New Testament upon which the steward said in himself, what shall I do, now my master strips me of my employment? dig I cannot: and 'tis shameful to beg: I see it now, Weymouth New Testament "Then the steward said within himself, "'What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Parable of the Shrewd Manager…2So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. 4I know what I will do, so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’… Cross References The manager said to himself, 1 Samuel 27:1 David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile. Psalm 4:4 Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah ‘What shall I do, Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 2 Kings 6:15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” Acts 16:30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” now that my master is taking away my position? Matthew 25:28-29 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. / For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 1 Samuel 15:28 So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. Daniel 5:26-28 And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. / TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. / PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” I am too weak to dig Luke 13:8 ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Isaiah 40:29-30 He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. / Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. and too ashamed to beg. Psalm 37:25 I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. Psalm 109:10 May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes. Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Matthew 25:24-30 Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. / So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ / ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. … Treasury of Scripture Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. said. Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? What. Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? Isaiah 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? I cannot. Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. to beg. Luke 16:20,22 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, … Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. Jump to Previous Ashamed Beg Dig Enough Field Fields Job Labour Management Manager Master Money Position Requests Servant Shamed Steward Stewardship Streets Strength Strong What Within WorkingJump to Next Ashamed Beg Dig Enough Field Fields Job Labour Management Manager Master Money Position Requests Servant Shamed Steward Stewardship Streets Strength Strong What Within WorkingLuke 16 1. The parable of the unjust steward.14. Jesus reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees. 19. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. The manager said to himself This phrase introduces the internal dialogue of the manager, highlighting his self-awareness and introspection. In the cultural context of the time, a manager or steward was responsible for overseeing the affairs of a wealthy landowner. This role required trust and competence. The manager's self-reflection indicates a moment of crisis, prompting him to consider his future actions. This introspection is a common biblical theme, seen in other parables where individuals must confront their circumstances and make decisions, such as the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:17. ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Manager (Steward)A servant responsible for managing his master's resources. In this parable, he faces the loss of his position due to mismanagement. 2. The Master The owner of the resources, who decides to dismiss the manager for his poor stewardship. 3. The Event of Dismissal The manager is informed that he will lose his job, prompting him to consider his future actions. Teaching Points Stewardship and AccountabilityAs stewards of God's resources, we are accountable for how we manage what is entrusted to us. This parable challenges us to reflect on our own stewardship. Self-Reflection and Planning The manager's introspection ("What shall I do?") encourages us to regularly evaluate our actions and plan wisely for the future. The Consequences of Poor Management The impending loss of the manager's position serves as a warning about the consequences of neglecting our responsibilities. Humility and Resourcefulness The manager's admission of his limitations ("too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg") teaches us the importance of humility and finding creative solutions in difficult situations. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 16:3?2. How does Luke 16:3 illustrate the importance of planning for future accountability? 3. What does the manager's dilemma in Luke 16:3 teach about stewardship? 4. How can we apply the manager's foresight in Luke 16:3 to our lives? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Luke 16:3 and Proverbs on wisdom and planning? 6. How can Luke 16:3 guide us in making ethical decisions under pressure? 7. What does Luke 16:3 reveal about the steward's character and his view on work and responsibility? 8. How does Luke 16:3 challenge our understanding of stewardship and accountability in a Christian context? 9. In what ways does Luke 16:3 reflect the broader theme of resource management in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 16? 11. What is the meaning of Biblical stewardship? 12. Is money the root of all evil? 13. Why does Luke 16:1-8 seem to commend the unjust steward's dishonest tactics, potentially endorsing unethical behavior? 14. How does the unjust steward secure his future? What Does Luke 16:3 Mean The manager said to himselfHe is caught in a quiet, private moment of self-assessment. Scripture often records such inner conversations when God is exposing a person’s heart (Psalm 4:4; Jeremiah 17:10). Like the rich fool who “thought to himself” (Luke 12:17), this steward is forced to look inward. God sees the talk we carry on inside, and accountability begins there (Hebrews 4:13). What shall I do A crisis has arrived, and the steward feels the weight of immediate decision—“What shall I do?” The same cry rises from convicted crowds in Luke 3:10 and Acts 2:37. When God presses truth on the conscience, neutral ground disappears: • He must act, not merely feel remorse (James 1:22). • Delay only worsens the outcome (Proverbs 27:1). Now that my master is taking away my position The servant acknowledges that his fate rests with the master. He has been called to give an account, echoing Jesus’ teaching that “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). • His role was a trust, not a possession (Luke 12:42-46). • Losing the position pictures the coming judgment when every believer will render an account to Christ (Romans 14:12). I am too weak to dig Manual labor is honest work, yet the steward confesses physical—or perhaps moral—weakness. He is unwilling to embrace strenuous effort (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Paul’s rule that “If anyone is not willing to work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) stands in sharp contrast to this attitude. His self-confessed frailty pushes him toward shrewd planning rather than hard labor. And too ashamed to beg Pride now surfaces. Begging, though better than theft, would bruise his reputation. Scripture warns, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace” (Proverbs 11:2) and “God opposes the proud” (James 4:6). Unlike the prodigal who humbled himself to say, “I am no longer worthy” (Luke 15:19), this man cannot stomach humiliation. His shame is not over sin; it is over perceived loss of status. summary Luke 16:3 captures a steward’s moment of exposure. He realizes his stewardship is ending, conducts an inner debate, rejects honest toil, and recoils from humility. Jesus uses this snapshot to illustrate how worldly people can act decisively to secure their future, challenging believers to show at least as much resolve in using present resources for eternal ends. (3) I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.--In the outer framework of the parable there is something eminently characteristic in this utterance of the steward's thoughts. He has lost the manliness and strength which would have fitted him for actual labour. He retains the false shame which makes him prefer fraud to poverty. He shudders at the thought that it might be his lot to sit, like Lazarus, and ask an alms at the rich man's door. Spiritually, we may see what happens to a religious caste or order, like the Pharisees, when it forfeits its true calling by misuse. It has lost the power to prepare the ground for future fruitfulness by the "digging," which answers, as in Luke 13:8, to the preliminary work of education and other influences that lie outside direct religious activity. It is religious and ecclesiastical, or it is nothing. It is ashamed to confess its spiritual poverty, and to own that it is "poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). Anything seems better than either of those alternatives.Verse 3. - What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship. This day of dismissal must be prepared for; very carefully, very anxiously, the man who has received the sentence of doom ponders over his future. The lesson of the Master is spoken to all; it is a solemn warning to each of us to see what we can do by way of providing for the inevitable day when we shall find ourselves alone and naked and perhaps friendless in the great, strange world to come. The hero of the parable seems suddenly, after a life of carelessness and thoughtlessness, to have awakened to a sense of his awful danger. So the voice of the real Owner of the goods, which we have so long deluded ourselves into thinking were our own, comes to us, bidding us make ready to give them back again to him, their Owner, and at the same time to render an account of our administration of them. The voice comes to us in the varied forms of conscience, sickness, misfortune, old age, sorrow, and the like; well for us if, when we hear it, we at once determine, as did the steward of the parable, to make a wise use of the goods in our power for the little time they are still left to us to dispose of as we will.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Theὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. manager οἰκονόμος (oikonomos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3623: A household manager, a steward, guardian. said Εἶπεν (Eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. to ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. himself, ἑαυτῷ (heautō) Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. ‘What Τί (Ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. shall I do, ποιήσω (poiēsō) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. now that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. my μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. master κύριός (kyrios) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. is taking ἀφαιρεῖται (aphaireitai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 851: To take away, smite off. From apo and haireomai; to remove. away ἀπ’ (ap’) Preposition Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses. my ἐμοῦ (emou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. [position]? οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3622: Management of household affairs, stewardship, administration. From oikonomos; administration; specially, a 'economy'. I am too weak ἰσχύω (ischyō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2480: To have strength, be strong, be in full health and vigor, be able; meton: I prevail. From ischus; to have force. to dig σκάπτειν (skaptein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 4626: To dig, excavate. Apparently a primary verb; to dig. [and] too ashamed αἰσχύνομαι (aischynomai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular Strong's 153: To be ashamed, be put to shame. From aischos; to feel shame. to beg. ἐπαιτεῖν (epaitein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 1871: To beg, be a beggar, ask alms. From epi and aiteo; to ask for. Links Luke 16:3 NIVLuke 16:3 NLT Luke 16:3 ESV Luke 16:3 NASB Luke 16:3 KJV Luke 16:3 BibleApps.com Luke 16:3 Biblia Paralela Luke 16:3 Chinese Bible Luke 16:3 French Bible Luke 16:3 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 16:3 The manager said within himself 'What will (Luke Lu Lk) |
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