25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning(A) that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming(B) of the Son of Man.(C) 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.(D)

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

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

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn(F) when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,(G) with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels(H) with a loud trumpet call,(I) and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “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. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door.(J) 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(K) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(L)

The Day and Hour Unknown(M)(N)

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[e] but only the Father.(O) 37 As it was in the days of Noah,(P) so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,(Q) up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.(R) 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.(S) 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.(T)

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.(U) 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,(V) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready,(W) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,(X) whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.(Y) 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.(Z) 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.(AA) 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:29 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
  2. Matthew 24:30 Or the tribes of the land
  3. Matthew 24:30 See Daniel 7:13-14.
  4. Matthew 24:33 Or he
  5. Matthew 24:36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son.

24 “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
25 the 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. 27 And 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. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[b] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation(D) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(E) 31 Heaven 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) 33 Be on guard! Be alert[c]!(H) You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’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. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 13:25 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
  2. Mark 13:29 Or he
  3. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray

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.(A) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(B) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(C) coming in a cloud(D) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(E)

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

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

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(I) and that day will close on you suddenly(J) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(K) 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.”

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

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