⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.^{(A) 43} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,^(B) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready,^(C) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[a]!^(A) You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants^(B) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”^(C)

² for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(A) will come like a thief in the night.^{(B) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(C) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(D) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(E)

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(F) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^(G)