Isaiah 51:4-6

New International Version

⁴“Listen to me, my people;^(A)
    hear me,^(B) my nation:
Instruction^(C) will go out from me;
    my justice^(D) will become a light to the nations.^(E)
⁵My righteousness draws near speedily,
    my salvation^(F) is on the way,^(G)
    and my arm^(H) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands^(I) will look to me
    and wait in hope^(J) for my arm.
⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
    look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,^(K)
    the earth will wear out like a garment^(L)
    and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation^(M) will last forever,^(N)
    my righteousness will never fail.^(O)

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Mark 13:24-37

New International Version

²⁴“But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
²⁵the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’^[a]^(A)

²⁶“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds^(B) with great power and glory. ²⁷And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.^(C)

²⁸“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ²⁹Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it^[b] is near, right at the door. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation^(D) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.^(E) ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(F)

The Day and Hour Unknown

³²“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.^(G) ³³Be on guard! Be alert^[c]!^(H) You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants^(I) 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. ³⁶If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”^(J)

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