^28 (A)Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak ^(B)will be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

²³ Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’ But say to them, ‘ ^(A)“The days are at hand, and the ^[a]fulfillment of every vision. ²⁴ For ^(B)no more shall there be any ^(C)false^[b] vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. ²⁵ For I am the Lord. I speak, and ^(D)the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and ^(E)perform it,” says the Lord God.’ ”

⁴⁸ But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master ^(A)is delaying ^[a]his coming,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is ^(B)not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. ^(C)There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

² For you yourselves know perfectly that ^(A)the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then ^(B)sudden destruction comes upon them, ^(C)as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

No One Knows the Day or Hour^(A)

³² “But of that day and hour ^(B)no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the ^(C)Father. ^33 (D)Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. ^34 (E)It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave ^(F)authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ^35 (G)Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— ³⁶ lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

^3 (A)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(B)repent. ^(C)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(D)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

²⁸ Yet ^(A)a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone to the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs.

The Importance of Watching^(A)

³⁴ “But ^(B)take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with ^[a]carousing, drunkenness, and ^(C)cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For ^(D)it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ^36 (E)Watch therefore, and ^(F)pray always that you may ^[b]be counted ^(G)worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and ^(H)to stand before the Son of Man.”