Luke 6:25
New International Version
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

New Living Translation
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

English Standard Version
“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

Berean Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to you having been filled now, for you will hunger. Woe to those laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.

King James Bible
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

New King James Version
Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.

New American Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

NASB 1995
“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

NASB 1977
“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

Legacy Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and cry.

Amplified Bible
Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].

Christian Standard Bible
Woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep.

American Standard Version
Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Contemporary English Version
You well-fed people are in for trouble. You will go hungry! You people who are laughing now are in for trouble. You are going to cry and weep!

English Revised Version
Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How horrible it will be for those who are well-fed. They will be hungry. How horrible it will be for those who are laughing. They will mourn and cry.

Good News Translation
"How terrible for you who are full now; you will go hungry! "How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep!

International Standard Version
How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry! How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and cry!

Majority Standard Bible
Woe to you who are well fed, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

NET Bible
"Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

New Heart English Bible
Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for you who now have plenty to eat, because you will be hungry! "Alas for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep aloud!

World English Bible
Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Woe to you who have been filled—because you will hunger. Woe to you who are laughing now—because you will mourn and weep.

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to you having been filled now, for you will hunger. Woe to those laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.

Young's Literal Translation
'Woe to you who have been filled -- because ye shall hunger. 'Woe to you who are laughing now -- because ye shall mourn and weep.

Smith's Literal Translation
Woe to you having been filled for ye shall hunger. Woe to you laughing now! for ye shall grieve and weep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Woe to you who are satisfied, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

New American Bible
But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.

New Revised Standard Version
“Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Woe to you who are full! for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! for you will weep and mourn.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Woe to you satisfied ones, for you shall hunger!” Woe to you who are laughing now, for you shall weep and you shall wail!”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Alas for you that are full! for you shall be hungry. Alas for you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep.

Godbey New Testament
Woe unto you who are full! because you shall hunger. Woe unto you who are now laughing because you shall weep and mourn.

Haweis New Testament
Wo unto you who are full! for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you who laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Mace New Testament
wo unto you that are full: for you shall be in want, wo unto you that indulge in present pleasure: for mourning and sorrow shall attend you.

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for you who now have plenty to eat, because you will be hungry! "Alas for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep aloud!

Worrell New Testament
"Woe to you who are filled now; because ye shall hunger! "Woe to you who are laughing now; because ye shall mourn and weep!

Worsley New Testament
Wo unto you that are full; for ye shall be hungry. Wo unto you that laugh now: for ye shall mourn and weep.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes
24But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.…

Cross References
James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

Amos 6:1-7
Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes. / Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to the great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours? / You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence. ...

Isaiah 65:13-14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. / My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit.

Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.

Revelation 18:7-8
As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’ / Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Job 20:5-7
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? / Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds, / he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

Jeremiah 5:28-29
They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy. / Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. / Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Psalm 73:3-20
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

1 Corinthians 4:8
Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-2
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile. / I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”


Treasury of Scripture

Woe to you that are full! for you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep.

full.

Deuteronomy 6:11,12
And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; …

1 Samuel 2:5
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

Proverbs 30:9
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

hunger.

Isaiah 8:21
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

Isaiah 9:20
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Isaiah 65:13
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

laugh.

Luke 8:53
And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

Luke 16:14,15
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him…

Psalm 22:6,7
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people…

mourn.

Luke 12:20
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 13:28
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Job 20:5-7
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? …

Jump to Previous
Alas Already Consolation Crying Fed Filled Food Full Hunger Hungry Laugh Mourn Need Rich Sorrow Unhappy Weep Well-Fed Wo Woe
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Alas Already Consolation Crying Fed Filled Food Full Hunger Hungry Laugh Mourn Need Rich Sorrow Unhappy Weep Well-Fed Wo Woe
Luke 6
1. Jesus reproves the Pharisees;
12. chooses apostles;
17. heals the diseased;
20. preaches to his disciples before the people: the beattitudes;
27. Love your Enemy
37. Do not Judge
43. A Tree and Its Fruit
46. The House on the Rock














Woe to you
The term "woe" is a strong expression of lament or warning, often used by prophets in the Old Testament to signal impending judgment or disaster. In Greek, the word is "ouai," which conveys a deep sense of sorrow and foreboding. Jesus uses this term to alert His listeners to the spiritual peril they face if they continue in their current state. It is a call to self-examination and repentance, urging believers to consider the eternal consequences of their present actions and attitudes.

who are well fed now
The phrase "well fed" in Greek is "empeplēsthe," which implies being satisfied or filled to the point of excess. In the historical context, being well-fed was a sign of wealth and comfort, often associated with the elite who had more than enough while others suffered in poverty. Jesus contrasts temporal satisfaction with spiritual hunger, warning that those who prioritize earthly pleasures over spiritual nourishment will ultimately find themselves lacking in the kingdom of God.

for you will go hungry
The future tense "will go hungry" indicates a reversal of fortunes. The Greek word "peinasete" suggests a deep, unmet need or longing. This hunger is not merely physical but spiritual, pointing to the emptiness that comes from a life focused on material wealth and self-indulgence. Jesus emphasizes that true fulfillment comes from seeking God's kingdom and righteousness, rather than temporary worldly satisfaction.

Woe to you who laugh now
The word "laugh" in Greek is "gelōntes," which can mean to rejoice or take pleasure in one's circumstances. In this context, it refers to those who find joy in the superficial and fleeting pleasures of life, often at the expense of others. Historically, laughter was sometimes associated with scorn or derision, particularly by those in positions of power. Jesus warns that such shallow joy will be replaced by sorrow if it is not rooted in the eternal truths of God's kingdom.

for you will mourn and weep
The terms "mourn" and "weep" are translated from the Greek words "penthēsate" and "klauseite," respectively. These words convey a deep, heartfelt sorrow and lamentation. Mourning and weeping are often associated with repentance and the recognition of one's spiritual poverty. Jesus highlights the inevitable sorrow that comes from a life disconnected from God, urging His followers to seek joy in Him rather than in the transient pleasures of the world.

(25) Woe unto you that are full!--The fulness is, as the context shows, that of the satiety of over-indulgence. The word is closely connected with that fulness (rather than "satisfying") of the flesh of which St. Paul speaks in Colossians 2:23.

Woe unto you that laugh now!--We note here, as so often elsewhere, an echo of our Lord's teaching, in that of James the brother of the Lord. He, too, presents the same contrast, "Let your laughter be turned to mourning" (James 4:9).

Verse 25. - Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. This saying points to men who used their wealth for self-indulgence, for the mere gratification of the senses. "The fulness," writes Dean Plumptre, "is the satiety of over-indulgence." Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. These are they who, proudly self-satisfied, dreamed that they needed nothing, neither repentance in themselves nor forgiveness from God - a character too faithfully represented in the self-satisfied, haughty Pharisee of the time of our Lord, a character, alas! not extinct even when the hapless men to whom the Lord specially referred had paid the awful penalty of extinction of name and race, loss of home and wealth. The hunger, the mourning, and the weeping were terribly realized in the case of the men and their proud houses in the national war with Rome which quickly followed the public teaching of Jesus. When the Master spoke the words of this sermon the date was about A.D. -31. In A.D. - that is, within forty years - Jerusalem, its temple, and its beautiful houses, were a mass of shapeless ruins. Its people, rich and poor, were ruined. Its very name, as a city and nation, blotted out. But from parables, and still more from direct words, we gather, too, that the hunger, the mourning, and the weeping point to the cheerless state of things in which those poor souls who have lived alone for this world will find themselves after death.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Woe
Οὐαὶ (Ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

to you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

who
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

are well fed
ἐμπεπλησμένοι (empeplēsmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1705: To fill up, satisfy. Or empletho em-play'-tho; from en and the base of pleistos;to fill in, i.e. to satisfy.

now,
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

for
Ὅτι (Hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

you will hunger.
πεινάσετε (peinasete)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3983: To be hungry, needy, desire earnestly. From the same as penes; to famish; figuratively, to crave.

Woe to
Οὐαί (Ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

[you] who
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

laugh
γελῶντες (gelōntes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1070: To laugh, smile. Of uncertain affinity; to laugh.

now,
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

for
Ὅτι (Hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

you will mourn
πενθήσετε (penthēsete)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3996: To mourn, lament, feel guilt. From penthos; to grieve.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

weep.
κλαύσετε (klausete)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2799: To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.


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NT Gospels: Luke 6:25 Woe to you you who are full (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 6:24
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