Matthew 24:43

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
KJV
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
WEB
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
ASV
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
DARBY
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and not have suffered his house to be dug through [into].
BLB
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in which watch the thief comes, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
ÅB
Men det skal dere vite at hvis husets herre visste i hvilken nattevakt tyven kom, så ville han våke og ikke la noen bryte seg inn i huset sitt.
OTB
Men forstå dette: Hvis husets herre hadde visst når på natten tyven kom, ville han ha våket og ikke latt huset bli brutt opp.
B1930
Men det skal I vite at dersom husbonden visste i hvilken nattevakt tyven kom, da vilde han våke, og ikke la nogen bryte inn i sitt hus.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 12:39

    And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 24:44

    Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

    Read in context
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2–6

    For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

    Read in context
  • 2 Peter 3:10–11

    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 20:11

    And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

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  • Exodus 22:2–3

    If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

    Read in context