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Chapter 18

Bildad’s Second Speech. Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

When will you put an end to words?
    Reflect, and then we can have discussion.
Why are we accounted like beasts,
    equal to them in your sight?
You who tear yourself in your anger—
    shall the earth be neglected on your account
    or the rock be moved out of its place?
Truly, the light of the wicked is extinguished;
    the flame of his fire casts no light.
In his tent light is darkness;
    the lamp above him goes out.(A)
His vigorous steps are hemmed in,
    his own counsel casts him down.
A net catches him by the feet,
    he wanders into a pitfall.
A trap seizes him by the heel,
    a snare lays hold of him.
10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
    a netting for him on the path.
11 On every side terrors frighten him;(B)
    they harry him at each step.
12 His strength is famished,
    disaster is ready at his side,
13 His skin is eaten to the limbs,
    the firstborn of Death[a] eats his limbs.
14 He is plucked from the security of his tent;
    and marched off to the king of terrors.[b]
15 Fire lodges in his tent,
    over his abode brimstone is scattered.
16 Below, his roots dry up,
    and above, his branches wither.
17 His memory perishes from the earth,(C)
    and he has no name in the countryside.
18 He is driven from light into darkness,
    and banished from the world.
19 He has neither offshoot nor offspring among his people,
    no survivor where once he dwelt.
20 Those who come after shall be appalled at his fate;
    those who went before are seized with horror.
21 So is it then with the dwelling of the impious;
    such is the place of the one who does not know God!

Chapter 19

Job’s Fifth Reply. [c]Then Job answered and said:

How long will you afflict my spirit,
    grind me down with words?
These ten times you have humiliated me,
    have assailed me without shame!
Even if it were true that I am at fault,
    my fault would remain with me;
If truly you exalt yourselves at my expense,
    and use my shame as an argument against me,
Know then that it is God who has dealt unfairly with me,
    and compassed me round with his net.
If I cry out “Violence!” I am not answered.(D)
    I shout for help, but there is no justice.
He has barred my way and I cannot pass;
    veiled my path in darkness;
He has stripped me of my glory,
    taken the diadem from my brow.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone;
    he has uprooted my hope like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me;
    he counts me one of his enemies.(E)
12 His troops advance as one;
    they build up their road to attack me,
    encamp around my tent.
13 My family has withdrawn from me,(F)
    my friends are wholly estranged.
14 My relatives and companions neglect me,
    my guests have forgotten me.
15 Even my maidservants consider me a stranger;
    I am a foreigner in their sight.
16 I call my servant, but he gives no answer,
    though I plead aloud with him.
17 My breath is abhorrent to my wife;(G)
    I am loathsome to my very children.
18 Even young children despise me;
    when I appear, they speak against me.
19 All my intimate friends hold me in horror;
    those whom I loved have turned against me!(H)
20 My bones cling to my skin,
    and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.[d]
21 Pity me, pity me, you my friends,
    for the hand of God has struck me!
22 Why do you pursue me like God,
    and prey insatiably upon me?
23 Oh, would that my words were written down!(I)
    Would that they were inscribed in a record:[e]
24 That with an iron chisel and with lead
    they were cut in the rock forever!
25 As for me, I know that my vindicator lives,[f]
    and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust.(J)
26 This will happen when my skin has been stripped off,
    and from my flesh I will see God:
27 I will see for myself,
    my own eyes, not another’s, will behold him:
    my inmost being is consumed with longing.
28 But you who say, “How shall we persecute him,
    seeing that the root of the matter is found in him?”
29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
    for your anger is a crime deserving the sword;
    that you may know that there is a judgment.

Chapter 20

Zophar’s Second Speech. Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

So now my thoughts provide an answer for me,
    because of the feelings within me.
A rebuke that puts me to shame I hear,
    and from my understanding a spirit gives me a reply.
Do you not know this: from of old,
    since human beings were placed upon the earth,
The triumph of the wicked is short
    and the joy of the impious but for a moment?(K)
Though his pride mount up to the heavens
    and his head reach to the clouds,
Yet he perishes forever like the dung he uses for fuel,
    and onlookers say, “Where is he?”(L)
Like a dream he takes flight and cannot be found;
    he fades away like a vision of the night.
The eye which saw him does so no more;
    nor shall his dwelling again behold him.
10 His sons will restore to the poor,
    and his hands will yield up his riches.(M)
11 Though his bones are full of youthful vigor,
    it shall lie with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth,
    and he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he retains it and will not let it go
    but keeps it still within his mouth,
14 Yet in his stomach the food shall turn;
    it shall be venom of asps inside him.
15 The riches he swallowed he shall vomit up;
    God shall make his belly disgorge them.
16 The poison of asps he shall drink in;
    the viper’s fangs shall slay him.
17 He shall see no streams of oil,[g]
    no torrents of honey or milk.
18 He shall give back his gains, never used;
    like his profit from trade, never enjoyed.
19 Because he has oppressed and neglected the poor,
    and stolen a house he did not build;
20 For he has known no quiet in his greed,
    in his treasure he cannot save himself.(N)
21 None of his survivors will consume it,
    therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 (O)When he has more than enough, distress shall be his,
    every sort of trouble shall come upon him.
23 When he has filled his belly,
    God shall send against him the fury of his wrath
    and rain down his missiles upon him.
24 Should he escape an iron weapon,
    a bronze bow shall pierce him through;
25 The dart shall come out of his back,
    a shining point out of his gall-bladder:
    terrors fall upon him.
26 Complete darkness is in store for his treasured ones;
    a fire unfanned shall consume him;(P)
    any survivor in his tent shall be destroyed.
27 The heavens shall reveal his guilt,
    and the earth rise up against him.
28 The flood shall sweep away his house,
    torrents in the day of God’s anger.
29 This is the portion of the wicked,
    the heritage appointed him by God.[h](Q)

Footnotes

  1. 18:13 Firstborn of Death: that is, disease, plague.
  2. 18:14 The king of terrors: of Sheol, of Death (cf. the “terrors” in v. 11). However, the Hebrew of this verse is obscure.
  3. 19:1 Job continues railing against his friends (vv. 2–5), and describing God’s savage attack in words reminiscent of 16:9–17.
  4. 19:20 Skin of my teeth: although the metaphor is not clear, this has become a proverbial expression for a narrow escape. It does not fit Job’s situation here.
  5. 19:23–24 What Job is about to say is so important that he wants it recorded in a permanent manner.
  6. 19:25–27 The meaning of this passage is obscure because the original text has been poorly preserved and the ancient versions do not agree among themselves. Job asserts three times that he shall see a future vindicator (Hebrew goel), but he leaves the time and manner of this vindication undefined. The Vulgate translation has Job indicating a belief in resurrection after death, but the Hebrew and the other ancient versions are less specific.
  7. 20:17 Oil: olive oil, one of the main agricultural products of ancient Palestine, a land proverbially rich in honey and milk; see Ex 3:8; etc.
  8. 20:29 Zophar ends his lecture in the style of Bildad (cf. 18:19) with a summary appraisal of what he has been saying about the fate of the wicked.

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“When will you end these speeches?(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
You who tear yourself(E) to pieces in your anger,(F)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(G)

“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(H)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.(I)
The light in his tent(J) becomes dark;(K)
    the lamp beside him goes out.(L)
The vigor(M) of his step is weakened;(N)
    his own schemes(O) throw him down.(P)
His feet thrust him into a net;(Q)
    he wanders into its mesh.
A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare(R) holds him fast.(S)
10 A noose(T) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap(U) lies in his path.(V)
11 Terrors(W) startle him on every side(X)
    and dog(Y) his every step.
12 Calamity(Z) is hungry(AA) for him;
    disaster(AB) is ready for him when he falls.(AC)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(AD)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(AE)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(AF)
    and marched off to the king(AG) of terrors.(AH)
15 Fire resides[a] in his tent;(AI)
    burning sulfur(AJ) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(AK)
    and his branches wither above.(AL)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(AM)
    he has no name(AN) in the land.(AO)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(AP)
    and is banished(AQ) from the world.(AR)
19 He has no offspring(AS) or descendants(AT) among his people,
    no survivor(AU) where once he lived.(AV)
20 People of the west are appalled(AW) at his fate;(AX)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(AY) of an evil man;(AZ)
    such is the place(BA) of one who does not know God.”(BB)

Job

19 Then Job replied:

“How long will you torment(BC) me
    and crush(BD) me with words?
Ten times(BE) now you have reproached(BF) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error(BG) remains my concern alone.
If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(BH)
    and use my humiliation against me,
then know that God has wronged me(BI)
    and drawn his net(BJ) around me.(BK)

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(BL)
    though I call for help,(BM) there is no justice.(BN)
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(BO)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(BP)
He has stripped(BQ) me of my honor(BR)
    and removed the crown from my head.(BS)
10 He tears me down(BT) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope(BU) like a tree.(BV)
11 His anger(BW) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.(BX)
12 His troops advance in force;(BY)
    they build a siege ramp(BZ) against me
    and encamp around my tent.(CA)

13 “He has alienated my family(CB) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(CC)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends(CD) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(CE) and my female servants(CF) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome(CG) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(CH) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.(CI)
19 All my intimate friends(CJ) detest me;(CK)
    those I love have turned against me.(CL)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(CM)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[b]

21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(CN) have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck(CO) me.
22 Why do you pursue(CP) me as God does?(CQ)
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?(CR)

23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,(CS)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(CT) on[c] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!(CU)
25 I know that my redeemer[d](CV) lives,(CW)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet[f] in[g] my flesh I will see God;(CX)
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes(CY)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns(CZ) within me!

28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound(DA) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,[h]
29 you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,(DB)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.[i](DC)

Zophar

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(DD) replied:

“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.(DE)
I hear a rebuke(DF) that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

“Surely you know how it has been from of old,(DG)
    ever since mankind[j] was placed on the earth,
that the mirth of the wicked(DH) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(DI) lasts but a moment.(DJ)
Though the pride(DK) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(DL)
    and his head touches the clouds,(DM)
he will perish forever,(DN) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(DO)
Like a dream(DP) he flies away,(DQ) no more to be found,
    banished(DR) like a vision of the night.(DS)
The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.(DT)
10 His children(DU) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.(DV)
11 The youthful vigor(DW) that fills his bones(DX)
    will lie with him in the dust.(DY)

12 “Though evil(DZ) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,(EA)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,(EB)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(EC)
    it will become the venom of serpents(ED) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(EE) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit(EF) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(EG) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.(EH)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers(EI) flowing with honey(EJ) and cream.(EK)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(EL)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(EM)
19 For he has oppressed the poor(EN) and left them destitute;(EO)
    he has seized houses(EP) he did not build.

20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;(EQ)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.(ER)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.(ES)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(ET)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.(EU)
23 When he has filled his belly,(EV)
    God will vent his burning anger(EW) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.(EX)
24 Though he flees(EY) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(EZ)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors(FA) will come over him;(FB)
26     total darkness(FC) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire(FD) unfanned will consume him(FE)
    and devour what is left in his tent.(FF)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.(FG)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(FH)
    rushing waters[k] on the day of God’s wrath.(FI)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”(FJ)

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
  2. Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
  3. Job 19:24 Or and
  4. Job 19:25 Or vindicator
  5. Job 19:25 Or on my grave
  6. Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
  7. Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
  8. Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
  9. Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
  10. Job 20:4 Or Adam
  11. Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away

11 I shall become keen in judgment,
    and shall be a marvel before rulers.
12 They will wait while I am silent and listen when I speak;
    and when I shall speak the more,
    they will put their hands upon their mouths.[a]
13 Because of her I shall have immortality
    and leave to those after me an everlasting memory.(A)
14 I shall govern peoples, and nations will be my subjects—(B)
15     tyrannical princes, hearing of me, will be afraid;
    in the assembly I shall appear noble, and in war courageous.
16 Entering my house, I shall take my repose beside her;
For association with her involves no bitterness
    and living with her no grief,
    but rather joy and gladness.(C)

Wisdom Is a Gift of God

17 Reflecting on these things,
    and considering in my heart
That immortality lies in kinship with Wisdom,(D)
18     great delight in love of her,
    and unfailing riches in the works of her hands;
And that in associating with her there is prudence,
    and fair renown in sharing her discourses,
    I went about seeking to take her for my own.
19 [b]Now, I was a well-favored child,
    and I came by a noble nature;
20     or rather, being noble, I attained an unblemished body.
21 And knowing that I could not otherwise possess her unless God gave it—
    and this, too, was prudence, to know whose gift she is—
I went to the Lord and besought him,(E)
    and said with all my heart:

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Footnotes

  1. 8:12 Hands upon their mouths: a sign of respect for unanswerable wisdom; cf. Jb 40:4.
  2. 8:19–20 Here the author mentions first bodily, then spiritual, excellence. To make it plain that the latter is the governing factor in the harmonious development of the human person, he then reverses the order. The Platonic doctrine of the pre-existence of the soul is often read into these lines, but such an anthropology does not seem to be the intent of the author (cf. 7:1–6). Verse 20 appears to rule out any misunderstanding of v. 19. Verse 21 emphasizes that he did not bring talent to his “birth”; his wisdom is the gift of God.
'Wisdom 8:11-21' not found for the version: New International Version.

Chapter 21

The Poor Widow’s Contribution.[a] (A)When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold.(B) [b]While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”(C)

The Signs of the End. (D)Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’[c] Do not follow them!(E) When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(F) 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

The Coming Persecution. 12 (G)“Before all this happens,[d] however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.(H) 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 (I)for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking[e] that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 (J)You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.(K) 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.(L) 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.(M)

The Great Tribulation.[f] 20 (N)“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.(O) 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city,(P) 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.(Q) 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles[g] are fulfilled.(R)

The Coming of the Son of Man.(S) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(T) 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens[h] will be shaken.(U) 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(V) 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”(W)

The Lesson of the Fig Tree.(X) 29 He taught them a lesson. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; 31 in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.(Y) 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(Z)

Exhortation to Be Vigilant. 34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise(AA) 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”(AB)

Ministry in Jerusalem. 37 During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives.(AC) 38 And all the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.

Footnotes

  1. 21:1–4 The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Lk 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Lk 20:45–47). The story is taken from Mk 12:41–44.
  2. 21:5–36 Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia. Mark, for example, described the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans (Mk 13:14) as the apocalyptic symbol (see Dn 9:27; 12:11) accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Luke (Lk 21:20–24), however, removes the apocalyptic setting and separates the historical destruction of Jerusalem from the signs of the coming of the Son of Man by a period that he refers to as “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–36 and Mk 13:1–37.
  3. 21:8 The time has come: in Luke, the proclamation of the imminent end of the age has itself become a false teaching.
  4. 21:12 Before all this happens…: to Luke and his community, some of the signs of the end just described (Lk 21:10–11) still lie in the future. Now in dealing with the persecution of the disciples (Lk 21:12–19) and the destruction of Jerusalem (Lk 21:20–24) Luke is pointing to eschatological signs that have already been fulfilled.
  5. 21:15 A wisdom in speaking: literally, “a mouth and wisdom.”
  6. 21:20–24 The actual destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in A.D. 70 upon which Luke and his community look back provides the assurance that, just as Jesus’ prediction of Jerusalem’s destruction was fulfilled, so too will be his announcement of their final redemption (Lk 21:27–28).
  7. 21:24 The times of the Gentiles: a period of indeterminate length separating the destruction of Jerusalem from the cosmic signs accompanying the coming of the Son of Man.
  8. 21:26 The powers of the heavens: the heavenly bodies mentioned in Lk 21:25 and thought of as cosmic armies.

The Widow’s Offering(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(B) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(C)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(D)(E)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(F) every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.(G) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(H) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(I)

12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(J) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(K) 15 For I will give you(L) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(M) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(N) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(O) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(P)

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,(Q) you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.(R) 22 For this is the time of punishment(S) in fulfillment(T) of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled(U) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.(V) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(W) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(X) coming in a cloud(Y) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(Z)

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(AA) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(AB) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(AC)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(AD) and that day will close on you suddenly(AE) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(AF) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(AG) and each evening he went out(AH) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(AI) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(AJ)