Luke 21

New International Version

The Widow’s Offering^(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^(B) ²He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(C)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(D)^(E)

⁵Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;^(F) every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^(G) ⁹When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(H) ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(I)

¹²“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³And so you will bear testimony to me.^(J) ¹⁴But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^(K) ¹⁵For I will give you^(L) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(M) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷Everyone will hate you because of me.^(N) ¹⁸But not a hair of your head will perish.^(O) ¹⁹Stand firm, and you will win life.^(P)

²⁰“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(Q) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^(R) ²²For this is the time of punishment^(S) in fulfillment^(T) of all that has been written. ²³How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(U) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.^(V) ²⁶People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.^(W) ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man^(X) coming in a cloud^(Y) with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^(Z)

²⁹He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God^(AA) is near.

³²“Truly I tell you, this generation^(AB) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(AC)

³⁴“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(AD) and that day will close on you suddenly^(AE) like a trap. ³⁵For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be always on the watch, and pray^(AF) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,^(AG) and each evening he went out^(AH) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,^(AI) ³⁸and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.^(AJ)

Job 11-13

New International Version

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite^(A) replied:

²“Are all these words to go unanswered?^(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?^(C)
³Will your idle talk^(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?^(E)
⁴You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless^(F)
    and I am pure^(G) in your sight.’
⁵Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
⁶and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,^(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.^(J)

⁷“Can you fathom^(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸They are higher^(L) than the heavens^(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below^(N)—what can you know?^(O)
⁹Their measure^(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.^(Q)

¹⁰“If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?^(R)
¹¹Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?^(S)
¹²But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt^(T) can be born human.^[a]^(U)

¹³“Yet if you devote your heart^(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands^(W) to him,^(X)
¹⁴if you put away^(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil^(Z) to dwell in your tent,^(AA)
¹⁵then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;^(AB)
    you will stand firm^(AC) and without fear.^(AD)
¹⁶You will surely forget your trouble,^(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.^(AF)
¹⁷Life will be brighter than noonday,^(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.^(AH)
¹⁸You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest^(AI) in safety.^(AJ)
¹⁹You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,^(AK)
    and many will court your favor.^(AL)
²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail,^(AM)
    and escape will elude them;^(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”^(AO)

Job

12 Then Job replied:

²“Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!^(AP)
³But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?^(AQ)

⁴“I have become a laughingstock^(AR) to my friends,^(AS)
    though I called on God and he answered^(AT)—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!^(AU)
⁵Those who are at ease have contempt^(AV) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.^(AW)
⁶The tents of marauders are undisturbed,^(AX)
    and those who provoke God are secure^(AY)—
    those God has in his hand.^[b]

⁷“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,^(AZ)
    or the birds in the sky,^(BA) and they will tell you;^(BB)
⁸or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
⁹Which of all these does not know^(BC)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(BD)
¹⁰In his hand is the life^(BE) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.^(BF)
¹¹Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?^(BG)
¹²Is not wisdom found among the aged?^(BH)
    Does not long life bring understanding?^(BI)

¹³“To God belong wisdom^(BJ) and power;^(BK)
    counsel and understanding are his.^(BL)
¹⁴What he tears down^(BM) cannot be rebuilt;^(BN)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.^(BO)
¹⁵If he holds back the waters,^(BP) there is drought;^(BQ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.^(BR)
¹⁶To him belong strength and insight;^(BS)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.^(BT)
¹⁷He leads rulers away stripped^(BU)
    and makes fools of judges.^(BV)
¹⁸He takes off the shackles^(BW) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth^[c] around their waist.^(BX)
¹⁹He leads priests away stripped^(BY)
    and overthrows officials long established.^(BZ)
²⁰He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.^(CA)
²¹He pours contempt on nobles^(CB)
    and disarms the mighty.^(CC)
²²He reveals the deep things of darkness^(CD)
    and brings utter darkness^(CE) into the light.^(CF)
²³He makes nations great, and destroys them;^(CG)
    he enlarges nations,^(CH) and disperses them.^(CI)
²⁴He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;^(CJ)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.^(CK)
²⁵They grope in darkness with no light;^(CL)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.^(CM)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,^(CN)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
²What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.^(CO)
³But I desire to speak to the Almighty^(CP)
    and to argue my case with God.^(CQ)
⁴You, however, smear me with lies;^(CR)
    you are worthless physicians,^(CS) all of you!^(CT)
⁵If only you would be altogether silent!^(CU)
    For you, that would be wisdom.^(CV)
⁶Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.^(CW)
⁷Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?^(CX)
⁸Will you show him partiality?^(CY)
    Will you argue the case for God?
⁹Would it turn out well if he examined you?^(CZ)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?^(DA)
¹⁰He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.^(DB)
¹¹Would not his splendor^(DC) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?^(DD)
¹²Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.^(DE)

¹³“Keep silent^(DF) and let me speak;^(DG)
    then let come to me what may.^(DH)
¹⁴Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?^(DI)
¹⁵Though he slay me, yet will I hope^(DJ) in him;^(DK)
    I will surely^[d] defend my ways to his face.^(DL)
¹⁶Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,^(DM)
    for no godless^(DN) person would dare come before him!^(DO)
¹⁷Listen carefully to what I say;^(DP)
    let my words ring in your ears.
¹⁸Now that I have prepared my case,^(DQ)
    I know I will be vindicated.^(DR)
¹⁹Can anyone bring charges against me?^(DS)
    If so, I will be silent^(DT) and die.^(DU)

²⁰“Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
²¹Withdraw your hand^(DV) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.^(DW)
²²Then summon me and I will answer,^(DX)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.^(DY)
²³How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^(DZ)
    Show me my offense and my sin.^(EA)
²⁴Why do you hide your face^(EB)
    and consider me your enemy?^(EC)
²⁵Will you torment^(ED) a windblown leaf?^(EE)
    Will you chase^(EF) after dry chaff?^(EG)
²⁶For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.^(EH)
²⁷You fasten my feet in shackles;^(EI)
    you keep close watch on all my paths^(EJ)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.