Matthew 24:36-51

Contemporary English Version

No One Knows the Day or Time

(Mark 13.32-37; Luke 17.26-30,34-36)

³⁶ No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know.^[a] Only the Father knows. ^37 (A) When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. ³⁸ People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day the flood came and Noah went into the big boat. ^39 (B) They didn't know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. This is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.

⁴⁰ Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. ⁴¹ Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. ⁴² So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come. ^43 (C) Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in. ⁴⁴ Always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.

Faithful and Unfaithful Servants

(Luke 12.35-48)

⁴⁵ Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. ⁴⁷ You may be sure a servant who is always faithful will be put in charge of everything the master owns. ⁴⁸ But suppose one of the servants thinks the master won't return until late. ⁴⁹ Suppose this evil servant starts beating the other servants and eats and drinks with people who are drunk. ⁵⁰ If that happens, the master will surely come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. ⁵¹ This servant will then be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve their master. There they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.