Luke 12:38

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ¹  and finds them alert, ²  blessed are those slaves! ³ 

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

"Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready!

It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake--and so blessed!

And if he comes in the second division of the night or in the third, and they are watching for him, happy are those servants.

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night ¹  and finds them alert, ²  blessed are those slaves! ³ 

¹ sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.

² tn Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.

³ tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.