Luke, 21

1. When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury

1. Looking up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury;

2. and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

2. and he noticed a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins,

3. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest;

3. and he said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them;

4. for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

4. for these have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'

5. While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said,

5. When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, he said,

6. "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

6. 'All these things you are staring at now -- the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed.'

7. Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"

7. And they put to him this question, 'Master,' they said, 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?'

8. He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!

8. But he said, 'Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the one" and "The time is near at hand." Refuse to join them.

9. When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."

9. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.'

10. Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

10. Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

11. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.

12. "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.

12. 'But before all this happens, you will be seized and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name

13. It will lead to your giving testimony.

13. -and that will be your opportunity to bear witness.

14. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,

14. Make up your minds not to prepare your defence,

15. for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

15. because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

16. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

16. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death.

17. You will be hated by all because of my name,

17. You will be hated universally on account of my name,

18. but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

18. but not a hair of your head will be lost.

19. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

19. Your perseverance will win you your lives.

20. "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.

20. 'When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must realise that it will soon be laid desolate.

21. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city,

21. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it.

22. for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled.

22. For this is the time of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled.

23. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.

23. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come!

24. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

24. 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete.

25. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

25. 'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves;

26. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

26. men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

27. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

27. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

28. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'

29. He taught them a lesson. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.

29. And he told them a parable, 'Look at the fig tree and indeed every tree.

30. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;

30. As soon as you see them bud, you can see for yourselves that summer is now near.

31. in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

31. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near.

32. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

32. In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place.

33. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

33. Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34. "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise

34. 'Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly,

35. like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.

35. like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth.

36. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

36. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'

37. During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives.

37. All day long he would be in the Temple teaching, but would spend the night in the open on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

38. And all the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.

38. And from early morning the people thronged to him in the Temple to listen to him.