13:36a–b

Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping: In the Greek text, the sentence that begins in 13:35a continues in 13:36. The Greek is literally “Keep watch…so that, if he comes suddenly, he will not find you sleeping.”

In some languages it may be necessary to repeat the verb “keep watch” at the beginning of 13:36. For example:

Keep watch,
(plur) therefore so that, if he comes suddenly, he does not find you sleeping.

13:36a

he may arrive without notice: In this context the Greek word translated as arrive without notice means “unexpectedly.” Jesus will not send a message to tell anyone the exact time that he will return.

The New Living Translation expresses this meaning as:

when he arrives without warning

If you said in 13:35b “I, the master of the house,” then you should continue to use “I” in this verse, as well.

13:36b

and find you sleeping: A master who saw his doorkeeper sleeping would be angry and punish him. The doorkeeper was supposed to guard the entry to the house. That was his responsibility.

sleeping: The word sleeping is part of the extended metaphor here. Jesus was talking about people who are not ready or not prepared to do what is needed. Such people are like those who are sleeping, because sleeping people are not ready for action. Find out if listeners/readers will understand what the word sleeping indicates here. If necessary, you could translate the meaning of sleeping. For example:

do not let him find you unprepared like someone sleeping
-or-
do not let him/me find you unprepared/unready for him/me

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