17:10a

So you also: The clause So you also indicates that Jesus was comparing the situation of his disciples to the situation of the servant. Some other ways to translate this are:

So you ⌊disciples, you⌋ too, ⌊like that servant⌋
-or-
It is the same with you (Good News Translation)

17:10b

when you have done everything commanded of you: The clause everything commanded of you is literally “all the things commanded you.” It is a passive clause. It refers to all the orders that their master had given them. The master that is implied here is either God or Jesus. Most scholars seem to indicate that God is implied.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate it as an active clause and supply a subject. If that is true in your language, some ways to do this are:

• Supply a general subject like “master.” For example:

when you(plur) have done everything that ⌊your master⌋ has told you to do

• Supply God or Jesus as the subject. For example:

when you(plur) have done everything that ⌊God⌋ has told you to do
-or-
after you have done all that ⌊your master God⌋ has ordered you to do
-or-
when you obey me (New Living Translation (2004))

17:10c

should say, ‘We are unworthy servants: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as should say refers to what the disciples should think. It does not imply here that a disciple should say the following words aloud to someone else.

Some ways to translate 17:10c are:

• As a thought expressed in the disciples’ own words. For example:

should say to yourselves, “We are unworthy servants…”
-or-
should think, “We are servants and do not deserve ⌊any praise⌋…”

• As a thought expressed indirectly. For example:

should think/realize that you are unworthy servants
-or-
should have the attitude that you do not deserve ⌊praise⌋ for serving your master

We are unworthy servants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unworthy in this context means “not deserving thanks” or “not worthy of praise.” Some other ways to translate this are:

We are not worthy of praise. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
We are ordinary servants (Good News Translation)

Jesus wanted his disciples to be humble and to recognize that God did not owe them anything.

17:10d

we have only done our duty: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as we have only done our duty is literally “we have done what we were obligated to do.” Some other ways to translate this are:

we have done what we were supposed to do
-or-
we have merely done what we ought to have done
-or-
we have simply done what ⌊our master⌋ told us to do

If you translated 17:10c as indirect speech, you can continue to use it here. For example:

10c…you should think/realize that you are ordinary servants. 10dYou have only done your duty.

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