Mark 13
Lexham English Bible
The Destruction of the Temple Predicted
13 And as[a] he was going out of the temple courts,[b] one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What great stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another stone that will not be thrown down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 And as[c] he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 So Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you! 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7 And when you hear about wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
Persecution of Disciples Predicted
9 “But you, watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues and will have to stand before governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.[d] 11 And when they arrest you and[e] hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you should say, but whatever is given to you at that hour, say this. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his[f] child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.
The Abomination of Desolation
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the one who reads understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 15 The one[g] who is on his[h] housetop must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house, 16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to pick up his cloak. 17 And woe to those who are pregnant[i] and to those who are nursing their babies[j] in those days! 18 But pray that it will not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation of such a kind as has not happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will happen. 20 And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved.[k] But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has shortened the days.
21 “And at that time if anyone should say to you, “Behold, here is the Christ,’ ‘Behold, there he is,’ do not believe him![l] 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce signs and wonders in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. 23 But you, watch out! I have told you everything ahead of time!
The Arrival of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation,
‘the sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.’[m]
26 And then they will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and will gather the[n] elect together from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch has already become tender and puts forth its[o] leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also you, when you see these things happening, know[p] that he is near, at the door. 30 Truly I say to you that this generation will never pass away until all these things take place! 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Unknown Day and Hour
32 “But concerning that day or hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch out! Be alert, because you do not know when the time is! 34 It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority—to each one his work—and to the doorkeeper he gave orders that he should be on the alert. 35 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning— 36 lest he arrive suddenly and[q] find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert!”
Footnotes
- Mark 13:1 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was going out”)
- Mark 13:1 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Mark 13:3 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was sitting”)
- Mark 13:10 Or “Gentiles”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context
- Mark 13:11 Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“hand you over”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
- Mark 13:12 The word “his” is not in the Greek text but is implied
- Mark 13:15 Some manuscripts have “And the one”
- Mark 13:15 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Mark 13:17 Literally “who have in the womb”
- Mark 13:17 The words “their babies” are not in the Greek text but are supplied as a necessary clarification
- Mark 13:20 Literally “every flesh would not be saved”
- Mark 13:21 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 13:25 A quotation from Isa 13:10; 34:4
- Mark 13:27 Some manuscripts have “his”
- Mark 13:28 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Mark 13:29 Or “you know”
- Mark 13:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“arrive”) has been translated as a finite verb
Mark 13
New Catholic Bible
When Will the End Come?[a]
Chapter 13
Jesus Announces the Destruction of the Temple.[b] 1 As Jesus was making his departure from the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at the size of these stones and buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down.”
The End Has Not Yet Come.[c] 3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives directly across from the temple, Peter,[d] James, John, and Andrew questioned him when they were alone. 4 “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign that all those things are about to be accomplished?”
5 Jesus began to say to them, “Take care that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famine. These are only the beginning of the labor pangs.
The Coming Persecution.[e] 9 “Be on your guard. For they will hand you over to courts and beat you in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me to testify before them. 10 But first the gospel must be preached to all nations.
11 “When they arrest you and bring you to trial, do not be concerned beforehand about what you are to say. Simply say whatever is given to you when that time comes, for it will not be you who speak but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 The Great Trial.“Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation[f] standing where it does not belong (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, 15 the one who is standing on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of the house, 16 and someone who is in the field must not turn back to retrieve his coat.
17 “Woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing infants in those days. 18 Pray that all this may not occur in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such suffering as has not been since the beginning of the creation that God made until now and will never be again. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he did cut short those days.
21 False Messiahs and False Prophets.[g]“Therefore, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders to lead astray God’s chosen ones, if that were possible. 23 Be on your guard! I have forewarned you about everything.
24 The Coming of the Son of Man.[h]“But in those days, following that distress,
the sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give forth its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the heavenly powers will be shaken.
26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 And he will send forth his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 The Parable of the Fig Tree.[i]“Learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things come to pass, know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things have taken place.[j] 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 The Day and Hour Unknown.[k]“But as for that day or that hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on your guard and keep alert, because you do not know when the time will come.
34 “It is like a man going on a journey. He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his own duties to perform, and he commands the doorkeeper to remain alert. 35 Therefore, keep watch, for you do not know when the master of the house will return, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 lest he arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Keep awake!”
Footnotes
- Mark 13:1 For over two centuries the Jewish world had been familiar with these strange visions that were meant to explain in advance the events that would occur at the end of the world. The series of pictures describes the unfolding of a catastrophe. These literary pieces were known as “apocalypses,” that is, revelations (see Isa 24–27; Ezek 34–36; Dan 7–12; Zec 14:1-20; etc.).
In the present discourse, the longest in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus, too, speaks of the final destiny of the human race and borrows from the Jewish apocalypses the somewhat terrifying images that became part of the literary genre of apocalypse as found in the first three Gospels. The discourse is therefore known as “the Synoptic apocalypse.” And because it bids us reflect on the ultimate lot of humankind and the world, it is also known as the “eschatological discourse,” that is, a discourse about the end. - Mark 13:1 See note on Mt 24:1-2.
- Mark 13:3 See note on Mt 24:3-14.
- Mark 13:3 Peter: the disciples named were the first to be called (see Mk 1:16-20). In Mark, all of Jesus’ teaching is given privately to these four disciples.
- Mark 13:9 See note on Mt 24:15-22.
- Mark 13:14 The abomination of desolation refers, in Dan 11:31; 12:11, and 1 Mac 1:54; 6:7, to the statue of the pagan emperor that was set up in the temple as a symbol of his divinity. Jesus is thus foretelling that this scandalous event will be repeated.
- Mark 13:21 False messiahs who try to lead Christians astray can be resisted by clinging to revealed Truth taught by Christ’s Church.
- Mark 13:24 The discourse now takes on clearly cosmic proportions. The upheaval in the elements is described in the customary expressions derived from apocalyptic language. However, the whole passage is centered upon the glorious appearance of the Messiah in his Second Coming. The emphasis is on the joy of the elect at the coming of the Son of Man rather than on their terror over the destruction of the world. See note on Mt 24:29-31.
- Mark 13:28 See note on Mt 23:32-35.
- Mark 13:30 It was typical of apocalypses that they announced events as if they had to do with the present generation. It was a way of involving the reader, of saying: “This passage has to do with you.”
- Mark 13:32 See note on Mt 24:36-42.
Mark 13
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Destruction of the Temple Predicted
13 As(A) He was going out of the temple complex,(B) one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher,(C) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”(D)
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?(E) Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives(F) across from the temple complex,(G) Peter,(H) James,(I) John,(J) and Andrew(K) asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place?”
5 Then Jesus began by telling them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name,(L) saying, ‘I am He,’(M) and they will deceive(N) many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,(O) don’t be alarmed;(P) these things must take place,(Q) but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(R) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.[a] These are the beginning(S) of birth pains.(T)
Persecutions Predicted
9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins,[b](U) and you will be flogged(V) in the synagogues.(W) You will stand before governors and kings(X) because of Me,(Y) as a witness(Z) to them.(AA) 10 And the good news[c](AB) must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say. On the contrary, whatever is given to you in that hour—say it. For it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Then brother will betray(AC) brother to death,(AD) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death. 13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.(AE) But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.[d](AF)
The Great Tribulation
14 “When you see the abomination that causes desolation(AG)[e] standing where it should not” (let the reader understand[f]), “then those in Judea(AH) must flee to the mountains! 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house.(AI) 16 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.(AJ) 17 Woe(AK) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 18 Pray(AL) it[g] won’t happen in winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation,(AM) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning(AN) of the world,[h](AO) which God created, until now and never will be again! 20 Unless the Lord(AP) limited those days,(AQ) no one would survive.[i] But He limited those days because of the elect,(AR) whom He chose.(AS)
21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!(AT) Look—there!’ do not believe it! 22 For false messiahs[j] and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders(AU) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:(AV)
The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not shed its light;
25 the stars(AW) will be falling from the sky,
and the celestial powers will be shaken.(AX)
26 Then they will see the Son of Man(AY) coming(AZ) in clouds(BA) with great power(BB) and glory.(BC) 27 He will send out the angels(BD) and gather His elect(BE) from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.(BF)
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28 “Learn(BG) this parable(BH) from the fig(BI) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.(BJ) 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know[k] that He[l] is near—at the door! 30 I assure you:(BK) This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth(BL) will pass away,(BM) but My words will never pass away.(BN)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
32 “Now concerning that day(BO) or hour no one knows—neither the angels(BP) in heaven nor the Son(BQ)—except the Father.(BR) 33 Watch! Be alert![m] For you don’t know when the time(BS) is coming.(BT) 34 It is like(BU) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves,(BV) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert,(BW) since you don’t know when the master(BX) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping.(BY) 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”
Footnotes
- Mark 13:8 Other mss add and disturbances
- Mark 13:9 Local Jewish courts or local councils
- Mark 13:10 Or the gospel
- Mark 13:13 Or saved
- Mark 13:14 Dn 9:27
- Mark 13:14 These are, most likely, Mark’s words to his readers.
- Mark 13:18 Other mss read pray that your escape
- Mark 13:19 Lit creation
- Mark 13:20 Lit days, all flesh would not survive
- Mark 13:22 Or false christs
- Mark 13:29 Or you know
- Mark 13:29 Or it; = summer
- Mark 13:33 Other mss add and pray
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