King James Bible
"Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."
Jesus pronounces divine favor on servants who remain alert and ready for their master's return at any hour. The watching implies active vigilance and faithful service during the master's absence, reflecting the call for disciples to live in constant readiness for Christ's return. This solemn formula marks what follows as particularly significant and certain. Jesus uses this phrase to emphasize the surprising and counter-cultural nature of the promise he is about to make. In a shocking reversal of social norms, the master becomes the servant, girding himself with a towel as servants did. This extraordinary image portrays the kingdom's upside-down values where faithful service is rewarded with the master's own humble service—prefiguring Christ's foot-washing and ultimate self-giving.