Mark 12:40

(KJV) Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

(1611 KJV) Which deuoure widowes houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: These shall receiue greater damnation.

(1587 Geneva Bible) Which deuoure widowes houses, euen vnder a colour of long prayers. These shall receiue the greater damnation.

(1568 Bishops Bible) Which deuoure widdowes houses, & vnder a pretence, make long prayers: These shal receaue greater dampnatio.

(The Great Bible 1539) whych deuoure wydowes houses, and vnder a pretence, make longe prayers. These shall receaue greater dampnacyon.

(Matthew's Bible 1537) & deuoure wydowes houses, and that vnder a coloure of long praiyng. These shall receyue greater dampnacion.

(Coverdale Bible 1535) they deuoure wyddowes houses, and vnder a coloure they make longe prayers. These shal receaue the more damnacion.

(Tyndale Bible 1526) and devoure widowes houses and that vnder coloure of longe prayinge. These shall receave greater dampnacion.

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

(CEB) They are the ones who cheat widows out of their homes, and to show off they say long prayers. They will be judged most harshly.”

(CEV) But they cheat widows out of their homes and pray long prayers just to show off. They will be punished most of all.

(Douay Rheims 1899)Who devour the houses of widows under the pretence of long prayer: these shall receive greater judgment.

(ERV) But they cheat widows and take their homes. Then they try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. God will punish them very much.”

(GNB) They take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers. Their punishment will be all the worse!”

(HCSB) They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will

receive harsher punishment.”

(JB PHILLIPS) The vast crowd heard this with great delight and Jesus continued in his teaching, “Be on your guard against these scribes who love to walk about in long robes and to be greeted respectfully in public and to have the front seats in the synagogue and the best places at dinner-parties! These are the men who grow fat on widow’s property and cover up what they are doing by making lengthy prayers. They are only adding to their own punishment!”

(THE MESSAGE) He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

(NABRE) They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

(NCV) But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment.”

(NET) They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”

(NIRV) They take over the houses of widows. They say long prayers to show off. God will punish these men very much.”

(NIV) They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

(NLV) They take houses from poor women whose husbands have died. They cover up the bad they do by saying long prayers. They will be punished all the more.”

(NLT) Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) They devour the houses* of the widows, and for show* they make long prayers. These will receive a more severe* judgment.”

(THE VOICE) who spend widows’ inheritances and pray long prayers to impress others. These are the kind of people who will be condemned above all others.

Textus Receptus – Traditional Text

οι κατεσθιοντες τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι ουτοι ληψονται περισσοτερον κριμα

Hort-Westcott – Critical Text

οι κατεσθιοντες τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι ουτοι λημψονται περισσοτερον κριμα

Corrupted Manuscripts

None

Affected Teachings

“greater damnation” is changed to condemnation, punishment, severer judgment

The modern versions once again attack the ultimate punishment of the unbeliever which is damnation.  Here Jesus states that those who trouble the most vulnerable people in society while acting religious and pious in public will receive a greater damnation.  What that entails remains to be seen but will be revealed on Judgment Day.  We have two verses which give us a little insight into that pronouncement.