Mark 13
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these massive stones and magnificent buildings!”
As Jesus was walking out of the Temple Courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look what fine stones and buildings these are!”
2 “You see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone will be left on top of another. Everything will be torn down.”
“Do you see these great buildings?” asked Jesus. “Not a single stone will be left here on another, which will not be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him in private,
When Jesus had sat down on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew questioned him privately,
4 “Tell us: when this will happen? What's the sign that all this is about to be fulfilled?”
“Tell us when this will be, and what will be the sign when all this is drawing to its close.”
5 Jesus began telling them, “Make sure no one deceives you.
Then Jesus began, “See that no one leads you astray.
6 Many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am the Christ.’ They will deceive many people.
Many will take my name, and come saying ‘I am He’, and will lead many astray.
7 Don't be troubled when you hear of wars nearby and wars far away. These things must happen but this is not the end.
“And, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must occur; but the end is not yet.
8 Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines too. These are the beginnings of the world's birth pains.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This will be but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
9 Watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to the courts to be tried. You will be beaten in synagogues. Because of me you will have to stand before governors and kings, and you will be witnesses to them.
“See to yourselves! They will betray you to courts of law; and you will be taken to synagogues and beaten; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, so that you can bear witness before them.
10 The good news must first be announced in every nation.
But the good news must first be proclaimed to every nation.
11 When they come to arrest you and put you on trial, don't worry what to say. Just say what you're told at that time, because it's not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Whenever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you will say, but say whatever is given you at the moment; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father will betray his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them condemned to death.
Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death;
13 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but whoever endures until the end will be saved.
and you will be hated by everyone because of me. Yet the person who endures to the end will be saved.
14 But when you see the ‘idolatry that defiles’ standing where he should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea should run to the mountains.
“As soon, however, as you see ‘the Foul Desecration’ standing where it ought not” (the reader must consider what this means) “then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains;
15 Those who are on the roof—don't go back inside the house to get anything.
and a person on the house-top must not go down, or go in to get anything out of their house:
16 Those who are out in the fields—don't go home to get a coat.
nor must one who is on their farm turn back to get their cloak.
17 How hard it will be for those who are pregnant or nursing at that time!
And alas for pregnant women, and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
18 Pray that this won't happen during the winter.
Pray, too, that this may not occur in winter.
19 For these will be days of trouble like never before since the beginning of God's creation until now, and they won't ever come again.
For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God’s creation until now – and never will again.
20 If God doesn't cut short these days, no one will survive. However, for the sake of those God has chosen, he has cut them short.
And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape; but, for the sake of God’s own chosen people, he did limit them.
21 So if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘Look, there he is,’ don't believe it.
“And at that time if anyone should say to you ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ ‘Look, there he is!’, do not believe it;
22 For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear, and they will perform miraculous signs and wonders to deceive the chosen of God, if that were possible.
for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and display signs and marvels, to lead astray, were it possible, even God’s people.
23 Watch out! I've told you everything before it happens.
But see that you are on your guard! I have told you all this beforehand.
24 This is what will happen after those troubles: ‘The sun will become dark, the moon won't shine,
“In those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light,
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.’
the stars will be falling from the heavens, and the forces that are in the heavens will be convulsed.
26 Then they will see the Son of man as he comes on the clouds, possessing great power and glory.
Then will be seen the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory;
27 He will send out the angels, and gather together all his chosen ones from wherever they are, from the most distant part of the earth to the farthest point of heaven.
and then he will send the angels, and gather his people from the four winds, from one end of the world to the other.
28 Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches grow soft and send out leaves, you know that summer is near.
“Learn the lesson taught by the fig tree. As soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near.
29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that it's near—right outside the door!
And so may you, as soon as you see these things happening, know that he is at your doors.
30 I tell you the truth, this generation won't come to an end until all these things have happened.
I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place.
31 Heaven and earth will come to an end, but my teachings will not.
The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 No one knows the day or hour when this will happen—not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son; only the Father knows.
“But about that day, or the hour, no one knows – not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son – but only the Father.
33 Keep watch! Stay awake! For you don't know when this will happen.
“See that you are on the watch; for you do not know when the time will be.
34 It's like a man who went away on a journey. He left his house, and gave each of his servants the authority to do what he told them. He told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge – each having their special duty – and orders the porter to watch.
35 So keep watch, because you don't know when the owner of the house is coming back. It may be in the evening, in the middle of the night, before dawn, or in the morning.
Therefore watch, for you cannot be sure when the Master of the house is coming – whether in the evening, at midnight, at daybreak, or in the morning –
36 You don't want to be caught sleeping if he returns unexpectedly.
otherwise he might come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 What I'm telling you, I'm telling everyone: Watch!”
And what I say to you I say to all – Watch!”
