Luke 21
1 And looking up, He saw the rich casting their gifts into the treasury.
[Jesus] looked up [from where he was sitting] and saw rich people putting their gifts into the [offering] boxes [in the Temple courtyard].
2 And He also saw a certain poor widow, casting in thither two mites.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two [small] copper coins.
3 And He said; Truly I say unto you, That this poor widow cast in more than all.
He said [to his disciples], “The truth is that these rich people have a lot of money, [but] they gave [only a small part of it]. But this woman, who is very poor, has put in all the money that she had to pay for the things she needs! So [God considers that] [HYP] this poor widow has put more money into the box than all the others.”
4 For they all of that which abounds unto them cast into the gifts of God: but she out of her scarcity cast in all her living which she had.
5 And certain ones speaking concerning the temple, that it was ornamented with beautiful stones and offerings, He said,
Some [of Jesus’ disciples] talked about the Temple. [They commented about] the beautiful stones [used in building the Temple] and the other decorations that [people] had given, decorations [that were on the walls]. But he said,
6 These things which you see, the days will come, in which stone will not be left upon stone, which shall not be thrown down.
“[I want to tell you something about] these things that you are looking at. [They will be destroyed] {[Foreign invaders will] destroy [these buildings]} [completely]. Every stone [in these buildings] will be thrown down {They will throw down every stone in these buildings}. Not one stone will be left {They will not leave one stone} on top of another.”
7 And they asked Him, saying, Teacher, when then shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things may be about to come to pass?
[Later] his disciples asked him, “Teacher, when will that happen? What will happen [to the temple] to indicate that the things [you(sg) just told us] are about to happen?”
8 And He said, See that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, I am He; and The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
He said, “[All that I will say is], be sure that you are not deceived {that they do not deceive [you]} [about these things]! Many [people] will come and say (that I [sent them]/that they have my authority) [MTY]. They will say, ‘I am [the Messiah]!’ They will also [say] ‘It is now the time [when God will begin to rule]!’ Do not follow them [to become their disciples]
9 And when ye may hear of wars and commotions, be not affrighted: for it behooveth these things first to take place; but the end is not immediately.
Also, whenever you hear about wars and riots, do not be terrified. Keep in mind that [God has said that] those things must happen. But [when they happen], it will not mean that [the world] will end right away!”
10 Then He said to them, Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Then he said to them, “[Groups in various] countries will fight each other, and [various] governments [will also fight] against each other.
11 and there shall be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in divers places; and there shall be great terrors and signs from heaven.
There will be [big] earthquakes, and in various places there will be famines and plagues. [People will see] things that will terrify them. There will also be unusual things happening in the sky.
12 And before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you into their synagogues and prisons, led before kings and governors on account of my name.
But before all these things happen, [some of] you will be persecuted and arrested {people will persecute some of you and arrest you} [MTY]. [Some of] you will be put {They will put [some of] you} [on trial] in the places where you gather to worship, and [you will be thrown] into prison. You will be put on trial {[They] will put you on trial} in front of high government authorities because you are my [MTY] [disciples].
13 And it shall come to pass to you for a testimony.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 Place it in your hearts, not to premeditate your defense:
So determine within yourselves not to be worrying before that happens what you will say to defend yourselves,
15 for I will give to you mouth and wisdom, which all who are opposed to you will not be able to gainsay nor resist.
because I will make you wise [HEN] so that you will [know] what to say. As a result, none of your enemies will be able to oppose what you say or (refute you/show that you are wrong).
16 And you shall be delivered up also by your parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends; and they will kill some of you.
[And there will also be other evil things that will happen]: Even your parents and brothers and [other] relatives and friends [who do not believe in me] will (betray you/help your enemies to seize you). They will kill some of you.
17 And you shall be hated by all, on account of my name:
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 and not a hair from your head shall perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 In your patience gain your souls.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 And when you may see Jerusalem shut up by the armies, then know that her desolation is nigh.
“But when you see that Jerusalem has been surrounded by the armies of [your enemies], you will know that it is time for [this city] to be completely destroyed {[them] to completely destroy [this city]}.
21 Then let those in Judea fly to the mountains; and let those in the midst of it depart out; and let not those in the country come into it.
At that time those [of you] who are in Judea [district] must flee to the [higher] hills. Those who are in this city must leave [quickly]. Those who are in the nearby countryside must not go back into the city [to get any of their possessions before they flee].
22 Because these are the days of vengeance, to fill up all things which have been written.
[You must obey what I tell you] because, in order that all the things that are written [in the Scriptures] will be fulfilled, [God] will very severely punish [the people who stay in this city].
23 But alas to those in gestation and nursing in those days! For there shall be great distress upon the earth, and wrath to this people.
[I feel] very sorry for women [in this city] who will be pregnant, and women who will be nursing [their babies] in those days, [because it will be very difficult for them to run away! I] feel sorry [because] the people in this [land] will suffer greatly [MTY] [when God punishes them].
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles may be fulfilled.
Many of them will be killed {Their enemies will kill many of them} with swords. [Others will be captured] and taken {They will capture [others] and take them} to [HYP] [other] countries. Non-Jewish people will trample over Jerusalem until the time [that God has determined for them to rule the city] is ended.”
25 And there will be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and commotion of the nations of the earth in their perplexity, the sea and the wave roaring;
“There will also be strange things that will [happen to] the sun, the moon, and the stars. In [many] nations, [people] will be very frightened, and they will be anxious [when they hear] the ocean roaring and [see huge] waves.
26 the souls of men failing from fear, and expectation of those things coming upon the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
People will faint because they will be afraid as they wait for what will happen. [They will be afraid] because the powerful [objects] in the sky will be shaken {shake}.
27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Then they will see [me], the one who came from heaven, coming in a cloud powerfully and very gloriously.
28 And these things beginning to take place, straighten up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption is nigh.
So when these things that [I have just now described] begin to happen, stand up [straight and] be brave, because it will be close to the time when [God] will free you [from all suffering].”
29 And He spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees:
[Then] Jesus told his disciples this parable: “Think about the fig tree, and all the [other] trees.
30 when they may already put forth, seeing, know for yourselves that summer is nigh.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 So you also, when you see these things take place, know that the kingdom of God is nigh.
Similarly, when you see these things that [I have just described] happening, you will know that it is almost time for God to [truly] rule as king.
32 Truly I say unto you, that this race may not pass away, until all these things shall be fulfilled.
Keep this in mind: All the things that [I have just now described] will happen before all the people who have observed the things that I have done have died.
33 But heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word can not pass away.
[You can be certain that these things] that I have told [you] about will happen. That they will happen is more [certain] than that the earth and sky will continue to exist.”
34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts may be burdened with luxury, and drunkenness, and worldly cares, and that day may come on you unanticipated.
“But be on guard. Do not be getting drunk with carousing or let yourselves be distracted by worries [concerning] your lives [SYN] {or let worries [concerning] your lives [SYN] distract you}. [If you do wrong things like those, you may be suddenly surprised by my return] [MTY], like a trap [suddenly catches an animal in it].
35 For as a lasso it will come upon all the people who are sitting down upon the face of the whole earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 Therefore watch, praying all the time, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
So be ready at all times. Pray that you will be able to endure without being afraid of all these [difficult] things that will happen, so that you will then stand [confidently] before me, the one who came from heaven.”
37 And He was teaching in the temple during the days; and during the nights going out, He was lodging in the mountain called Mount of Olives.
Each day [during that week Jesus] taught the people in the Temple [courtyard in Jerusalem]. But at night he [and his disciples] left [the city] and stayed on Olive [Tree] Hill.
38 And all the people gathered in the temple to hear Him.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
