Luke 21

1 Now Jesus ^{a21:1 Lit. he} looked up and saw rich people dropping their gifts into the offering box. ^{b21:1 Or treasury}ISV — Luke 21:1

2 Then he saw a destitute widow drop in two small copper coins. ^{c21:2 Lit. lepta, the smallest coin denominated in the 1 century Jewish economy} ISV — Luke 21:2

3 He said, “I tell you with certainty, this destitute widow has dropped in more than all of them,ISV — Luke 21:3

4 because all the others contributed to the offering ^{d21:4 Other mss. read to the offering of God} out of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, dropped in everything she had to live on.” ( ; )ISV — Luke 21:4

5 Now while some people were talking about the Temple—how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God—he said,ISV — Luke 21:5

6 “As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that won’t be knocked down.” ( ; )ISV — Luke 21:6

7 Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”ISV — Luke 21:7

8 He said, “Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, ‘I AM’ and, ‘The time has come.’ Don’t follow them.ISV — Luke 21:8

9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”ISV — Luke 21:9

10 Then he went on to say to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.ISV — Luke 21:10

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven.” ( ; ; )ISV — Luke 21:11

12 “But before all these things take place, people ^{e21:12 Lit. they} will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.ISV — Luke 21:12

13 It will give you an opportunity to testify.ISV — Luke 21:13

14 So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time,ISV — Luke 21:14

15 because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.ISV — Luke 21:15

16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.ISV — Luke 21:16

17 You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name.ISV — Luke 21:17

18 And yet not a hair on your head will be lost.ISV — Luke 21:18

19 By your endurance you will protect your lives.” ( ; )ISV — Luke 21:19

20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then understand that its devastation is approaching.ISV — Luke 21:20

21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in the countryside must not go into it,ISV — Luke 21:21

22 because these are the days of vengeance when all that is written will be fulfilled.ISV — Luke 21:22

23 “How terrible it will be for those women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days!—because there will be great distress in the land ^{f21:23 Or on earth} and wrath against this people.ISV — Luke 21:23

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the unbelievers ^{g21:24 Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews} until the times of the unbelievers ^{h21:24 Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews} are fulfilled.” ( ; )ISV — Luke 21:24

25 “ There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and there will be distress on earth among the nations that are confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves.ISV — Luke 21:25

26 People will faint from fear and apprehension because of the things that are to come on the inhabited world, because the powers of heaven will be shaken.ISV — Luke 21:26

27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ ^{i21:27 Cf. Dan 7:13} with power and great glory.ISV — Luke 21:27

28 “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is approaching.” ( ; )ISV — Luke 21:28

29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.ISV — Luke 21:29

30 As soon as they produce leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.ISV — Luke 21:30

31 In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near.ISV — Luke 21:31

32 I tell all of you ^{j21:32 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty, this generation won’t disappear until all these things take place.ISV — Luke 21:32

33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words won’t ever disappear.”ISV — Luke 21:33

34 “Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surpriseISV — Luke 21:34

35 like a trap, because it will come on everyone who lives on the face of the earth.ISV — Luke 21:35

36 So be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”ISV — Luke 21:36

37 Now during the day Jesus ^{k21:37 Lit. he} would teach in the Temple, but when evening came he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.ISV — Luke 21:37

38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.ISV — Luke 21:38