Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 21, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 21 New English Translation

The Widow's Offering

   1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on."

The Signs of the End of the Age

   5 Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, 6 "As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!" 7 So they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?" 8 He said, "Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he, ' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them! 9 And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once."

Persecution of Disciples

   10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. 14 Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense. 15 For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

The Desolation of Jerusalem

   20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Arrival of the Son of Man

   25 "And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 26 People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

The Parable of the Fig Tree

   29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Be Ready!

   34 "But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."
   37 So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.

King James Version

   1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
   2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
   3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
   4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
   5 ¶ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
   6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
   7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
   8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
   9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
   10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
   11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
   12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
   13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
   14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
   15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
   16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
   17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
   18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
   19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
   20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
   21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
   22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
   23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
   24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
   25 ¶ And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
   26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
   27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
   28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
   29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
   30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
   31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
   32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
   33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
   34 ¶ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
   35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
   36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
   37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
   38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.