The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,^(A) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress^(B) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book^(C)—will be delivered.^{(D) 2} Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:^(E) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.^{(F) 3} Those who are wise^[a](G) will shine^(H) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,^(I) like the stars for ever and ever.^{(J) 4} But you, Daniel, roll up and seal^(K) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.^(L) Many will go here and there^(M) to increase knowledge.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.^{(N) 6} One of them said to the man clothed in linen,^(O) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”^(P)

⁷ The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand^(Q) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,^(R) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[b](S) When the power of the holy people^(T) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.^(U)”

⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

⁹ He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed^(V) until the time of the end.^{(W) 10} Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,^(X) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.^(Y) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.^(Z)

¹¹ “From the time that the daily sacrifice^(AA) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation^(AB) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.^{(AC) 12} Blessed is the one who waits^(AD) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.^(AE)

¹³ “As for you, go your way till the end.^(AF) You will rest,^(AG) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.^(AH)”

The Parable of the Sower^(A)(B)(C)

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house^(D) and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat^(E) and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,^(F) sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”^(G)

⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”^[a](A) And her child was snatched up^(B) to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.^(C)

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(D) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(E) and the dragon and his angels^(F) fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(G) called the devil,^(H) or Satan,^(I) who leads the whole world astray.^(J) He was hurled to the earth,^(K) and his angels with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(L) say: