Mark 13
Living Bible
13 As he was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, what beautiful buildings these are! Look at the decorated stonework on the walls.”
2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look! For not one stone will be left upon another, except as ruins.”
3-4 And as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives across the valley from Jerusalem, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got alone with him and asked him, “Just when is all this going to happen to the Temple? Will there be some warning ahead of time?”
5 So Jesus launched into an extended reply. “Don’t let anyone mislead you,” he said, 6 “for many will come declaring themselves to be your Messiah and will lead many astray. 7 And wars will break out near and far, but this is not the signal of the end-time.
8 “For nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many lands, and famines. These herald only the early stages of the anguish ahead. 9 But when these things begin to happen, watch out! For you will be in great danger. You will be dragged before the courts, and beaten in the synagogues, and accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This is your opportunity to tell them the Good News. 10 And the Good News must first be made known in every nation before the end-time finally comes.[a] 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then you will not be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.
12 “Brothers will betray each other to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will betray their parents to be killed. 13 And everyone will hate you because you are mine. But all who endure to the end without renouncing me shall be saved.
14 “When you see the horrible thing standing in the Temple[b] —reader, pay attention!—flee, if you can, to the Judean hills. 15-16 Hurry! If you are on your rooftop porch, don’t even go back into the house. If you are out in the fields, don’t even return for your money or clothes.
17 “Woe to pregnant women in those days, and to mothers nursing their children. 18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter. 19 For those will be days of such horror as have never been since the beginning of God’s creation, nor will ever be again. 20 And unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a soul in all the earth will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he will limit those days.
21 “And then if anyone tells you, ‘This is the Messiah,’ or, ‘That one is,’ don’t pay any attention. 22 For there will be many false Messiahs and false prophets who will do wonderful miracles that would deceive, if possible, even God’s own children.[c] 23 Take care! I have warned you!
24 “After the tribulation ends, then the sun will grow dim and the moon will not shine, 25 and the stars will fall—the heavens will convulse.
26 “Then all mankind will see me, the Messiah,[d] coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And I will send out the angels to gather together my chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest bounds of earth and heaven.
28 “Now, here is a lesson from a fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that spring has come. 29 And when you see these things happening that I’ve described, you can be sure that my return is very near, that I am right at the door.
30 “Yes, these are the events that will signal the end of the age.[e] 31 Heaven and earth shall disappear, but my words stand sure forever.
32 “However, no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor I myself,[f] knows the day or hour when these things will happen; only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when it will happen, stay alert. Be on the watch for my return.[g]
34 “My coming[h] can be compared with that of a man who went on a trip to another country. He laid out his employees’ work for them to do while he was gone and told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
35-37 “Keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when I[i]
Footnotes
- Mark 13:10 before the end-time finally comes, implied.
- Mark 13:14 standing in the Temple, literally, “standing where he ought not.”
- Mark 13:22 God’s own children, literally, “the elect of God.”
- Mark 13:26 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Mark 13:30 of the age, literally, “of this generation.”
- Mark 13:32 I myself, literally, “the Son.”
- Mark 13:33 for my return, implied.
- Mark 13:34 My coming, implied.
- Mark 13:35 I, implied.
Mark 13
Christian Standard Bible
Destruction of the Temple Predicted
13 As(A) he was going out of the temple,(B) one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,(C) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” (D)
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?(E) Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives(F) across from the temple,(G) Peter,(H) James,(I) John,(J) and Andrew(K) asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name,(L) saying, ‘I am he,’(M) and they will deceive(N) many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,(O) don’t be alarmed;(P) these things must take place,(Q) but it is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(R) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.[a] These are the beginning(S) of birth pains.(T)
Persecutions Predicted
9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,[b](U) and you will be flogged(V) in the synagogues.(W) You will stand before governors and kings(X) because of me,(Y) as a witness(Z) to them.(AA) 10 And it is necessary that the gospel(AB) be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray(AC) brother to death,(AD) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,(AE) but the one who endures to the end will be saved.(AF)
The Great Tribulation
14 “When you see the abomination of desolation[c](AG) standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea(AH) must flee to the mountains. 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house,(AI) 16 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.(AJ) 17 Woe (AK) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
18 “Pray(AL) it[d] won’t happen in winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation,(AM) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation,(AN) which God created, until now and never will be again.(AO) 20 If the Lord(AP) had not cut those days short,(AQ) no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect,(AR) whom he chose.(AS)
21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah!(AT) See, there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders(AU) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:(AV) The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25 the stars(AW) will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.(AX) 26 Then they will see the Son of Man(AY) coming(AZ) in clouds(BA) with great power(BB) and glory.(BC) 27 He will send out the angels(BD) and gather his elect(BE) from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.(BF)
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28 “Learn(BG) this lesson(BH) from the fig(BI) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.(BJ) 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize[e] that he[f] is near—at the door.
30 “Truly I tell you,(BK) this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth(BL) will pass away,(BM) but my words will never pass away.(BN)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
32 “Now concerning that day(BO) or hour no one knows—neither the angels(BP) in heaven nor the Son(BQ) —but only the Father.(BR)
33 “Watch! Be alert![g] For you don’t know when the time(BS) is coming.(BT)
34 “It is like(BU) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants,(BV) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert,(BW) since you don’t know when the master(BX) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.(BY) 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”
Mark 13
Contemporary English Version
The Temple Will Be Destroyed
(Matthew 24.1,2; Luke 21.5,6)
13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these beautiful stones and wonderful buildings!”
2 Jesus replied, “Do you see these huge buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in place.”
Warning about Trouble
(Matthew 24.3-14; Luke 21.7-19)
3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private. 4 (A) They asked, “When will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
5 Jesus answered:
Watch out and don't let anyone fool you! 6 Many will come and claim to be me. They will use my name and fool many people.
7 When you hear about wars and threats of wars, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 8 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places, and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning of troubles.
9 (B) Be on your guard! You will be taken to courts and beaten with whips in their synagogues. And because of me, you will have to stand before rulers and kings to tell about your faith. 10 But before the end comes, the good news must be preached to all nations.
11 When you are arrested, don't worry about what you will say. You will be given the right words when the time comes. But you will not really be the ones speaking. Your words will come from the Holy Spirit.
12 Brothers and sisters will betray each other and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 13 (C) Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.
The Horrible Thing
(Matthew 24.15-21; Luke 21.20-24)
14 (D) Someday you will see that “Horrible Thing” where it should not be.[a] Everyone who reads this must try to understand! If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. 15 (E) If you are on the roof[b] of your house, don't go inside to get anything. 16 If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. 17 It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. 18 Pray that it won't happen in winter.[c] 19 (F) This will be the worst time of suffering since God created the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. 20 If the Lord doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of his chosen and special ones, he will make the time shorter.
21 If someone should say, “Here is the Messiah!” or “There he is!” don't believe it. 22 False messiahs and false prophets will come and work miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. 23 But be on your guard! That's why I am telling you these things now.
When the Son of Man Appears
(Matthew 24.29-31; Luke 21.25-28)
24 (G) In those days, right after this time of suffering,
“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
25 (H) The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky[d]
will be shaken.”
26 (I) Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.
A Lesson from a Fig Tree
(Matthew 24.32-35; Luke 21.29-33)
28 Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. 29 So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.[e] 30 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 31 The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.
No One Knows the Day or Time
(Matthew 24.36-44)
32 (J) No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. 33 So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come. 34 (K) It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. 35 So be alert! You don't know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. 36 But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep. 37 I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!
Footnotes
- 13.14 where it should not be: Probably the holy place in the temple.
- 13.15 roof: See the note at 2.4.
- 13.18 in winter: In Palestine the winters are cold and rainy and make travel difficult.
- 13.25 the powers in the sky: In ancient times people thought that the stars were spiritual powers.
- 13.29 the time has almost come: Or “he (that is, the Son of Man) will soon be here.”
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