OET interlinear LUKE 12:19

12:19a–b

In this verse the rich man thought about what he would say to himself in the future. He thought about what he would say after he had built his new barns and filled them with good things. The text expresses his thoughts as a quotation within a quotation.The rich man’s thoughts are what Jesus quoted, so there are actually three levels of quotation. English versions handle these quotes in different ways. It is suggested that you use whatever option is followed by a major language translation in your area. In some languages you may need to translate this as indirect speech. For example:

Then I will congratulate myself that I have stored up enough good things to last me for many years. I will plan on taking life easy and enjoying plenty to eat and drink.

12:19a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Then here introduces what the rich man would say to himself after he had finished storing his goods in his new barns. In some languages it may be more natural to use a word such as “And.”

I will say to myself: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as I will say to myself is literally “I will say to my soul.” Many English versions translate it that way. It introduces what the rich man would think in the future. He was thinking good thoughts about himself. Because of this, it may be appropriate in some languages to use a word meaning “praise/congratulate oneself” or to supply an exclamation with that meaning as part of the quote. For example:

After that I can congratulate myself because I will have set aside enough good things to last for many years.

Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! (GNT)

You have plenty of good things laid up for many years: The rich man was saying that he had stored enough grain and other things to use for many years. He was implying that he did not need to continue to work. Another way to translate this is:

You have all the good things you need for many years. (GNT)

You: The pronoun You here refers to the rich man, who was talking to himself. In some languages it is more natural to use a pronoun like “I.” For example:

Then I can say to myself, “I have enough good things stored to last for many years…” (NCV)

laid up: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as laid up here means “stored, put away in a safe place.” It has the same meaning here as the verb that the BSB translates as “store” in 12:17b.

12:19b

Take it easy: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as Take it easy means “rest” or “relax.” Consider what someone would say to himself if he did not need to work hard anymore. For example:

You can live an easy life now.

Now I can rest/relax!

Eat, drink, and be merry: The clause Eat, drink, and be merry was a common expression to refer to celebrating at feasts and parties. Use an expression in your language that refers to parties where people have more than enough to eat and drink.