Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁹ For what thanks we can render to God for you, for all the joy that we have on your account before our God, ¹⁰ while we pray very much night and day that we might see you personally, and might make up that which is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ May God himself our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ guide our journey to you. ¹² And may the Lord prosper you, and make you flow over in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we do toward you, ¹³ to make your hearts constant and unblameable in holiness before God our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

²⁵ And there will be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, and in the earth the people will be in such perplexity that they will not know which way to turn. The sea and the waters will roar, ²⁶ and men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and for the dread of those things which shall come on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall move. ²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man come in a cloud, with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.

²⁹ And he told them a similitude: Consider the fig tree, and all other trees. ³⁰ When they shoot forth their buds, you see and can tell for your own selves that summer is then nigh at hand. ³¹ So likewise, when you see these things come to pass, understand that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled. ³³ Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

³⁴ Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcome with excess of eating, and drunkenness, and worldly cares, and that day come on you unawares. ³⁵ For as a snare shall it come upon all who sit on the face of the earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore continually, and pray that you may obtain grace to escape all this that is to come, and that you may stand before the Son of man.