Luke 21
World English Bible
21 He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.[a] 3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, 4 for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he[b],’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
29 He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. 31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. 32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. 38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
Luke 21
Christian Standard Bible
The Widow’s Gift
21 He(A) looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.(B) 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.[a](C) 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them.(D) 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Destruction of the Temple Predicted
5 As(E) some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “These things that you see—the days will come(F) when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”(G)
Signs of the End of the Age
7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” (H)
8 Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived.(I) For many will come in my name,(J) saying, ‘I am he,’(K) and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.(L) 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions,[b] don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
10 Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(M) 11 There will be violent earthquakes,(N) and famines and plagues(O) in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.(P) 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you(Q) and persecute(R) you. They will hand you over to the synagogues(S) and prisons,(T) and you will be brought before kings and governors(U) because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.(V) 14 Therefore make up your minds[c] not to prepare your defense ahead of time,(W) 15 for I will give you such words(X) and a wisdom(Y) that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.(Z) 16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.(AA) They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,(AB) 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost.(AC) 19 By your endurance, gain[d] your lives.(AD)
The Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,(AE) then recognize that its desolation(AF) has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee(AG) to the mountains.(AH) Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance(AI) to fulfill all the things that are written. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,(AJ) for there will be great distress in the land[e] and wrath against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword[f](AK) and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles[g](AL) until the times of the Gentiles(AM) are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; (AN) and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(AO) 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.(AP) 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud(AQ) with power and great glory.(AR) 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”(AS)
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize[h] that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.(AT) 33 Heaven and earth will pass away,(AU) but my words will never pass away.(AV)
The Need for Watchfulness
34 “Be on your guard,(AW) so that your minds are not dulled[i] from carousing,[j] drunkenness,(AX) and worries of life,(AY) or that day will come on you unexpectedly(AZ) 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times,(BA) praying that you may have strength[k] to escape(BB) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During(BC) the day, he was teaching in the temple,(BD) but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.(BE) 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.(BF)
Footnotes
- 21:2 Lit two lepta; the lepton was the smallest and least valuable Gk coin in use.
- 21:9 Or insurrections, or revolutions, or chaos
- 21:14 Lit Therefore place (determine) in your hearts
- 21:19 Other mss read endurance, you will gain
- 21:23 Or the earth
- 21:24 Lit will fall by the edge of the sword
- 21:24 Or nations
- 21:31 Or you know
- 21:34 Lit your hearts are not weighed down
- 21:34 Or hangovers
- 21:36 Other mss read you may be counted worthy
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