Luke 21
1 And Jesus looked upon the rich, who cast their oblations 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 saw also a certain poor widow, who cast in two mites.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two [small] copper coins.
3 And he said: Truly I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than any one.
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 all they, from what was superfluous to them, have cast into the receptacle of oblations to God; but she, from her penury, hath cast in all that she possessed.
5 And when some spoke of the temple, as adorned with goodly stones and oblations, Jesus said to them:
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 As for these things, on which ye gaze, the days will come, in which there will not be left a stone upon a stone, that is not cast 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 questioned him, and said: Teacher, when will these things be? And what is the sign that they are near to take place?
[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 to them: See, that ye be not deceived; for many will come in my name, and will say: I am Messiah and the time is near. But 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 shall hear of wars and commotions, be not afraid; for these things are previously to take place, but the end is not yet come.
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 For nation will rise 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 great earthquakes will occur in several places, and famines, and pestilences; and there will be terrors, and trepidations, and great signs from heaven will be seen, and there will be great tempests.
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 But before all these things, they will lay hands upon you, and will persecute you, and will deliver you up to councils and to prison, and will arraign you 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 But it will be to you for a testimony.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 And settle it in your hearts, that ye will not previously seek instruction for making a defence.
So determine within yourselves not to be worrying before that happens what you will say to defend yourselves,
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your enemies will be unable to withstand.
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 your parents, and your brothers, and your relatives, and your friends, will deliver you up, and cause some of you to die.
[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 ye will be hated by every one, on account of my name.
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 But a hair of your head shall not perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 And by your patience, will ye preserve your souls.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem with an army encompassing it, then know ye, that its destruction draweth 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 them who shall be in Judaea, flee to the mountain district; and let them, who are in the midst of it, flee away; and those in the fields, not enter 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 For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is 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 woe to them that are with child, and to them that nurse children, in those days; for then will be great distress in the land, and wrath upon 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 will fall by the edge of the sword, and be carried captive to every place. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be completed.
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 distress of nations on the earth; and clasping of hands, from astonishment at the noise of the sea;
“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 and dismay that driveth out the souls of men, from fear of that which is to come on the earth; and the powers of heaven will be moved.
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 will they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with much power, and with great glory.
Then they will see [me], the one who came from heaven, coming in a cloud powerfully and very gloriously.
28 And when these things shall begin to be, take courage, and lift up your heads, for your deliverance draweth 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 uttered a similitude to them. Look at 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 bud forth, ye at once understand from them that summer approacheth.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 So also, when ye shall see all these things take place, know ye that the kingdom of God is near.
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 Verily I say to you, That this generation will not pass away, until all these things occur.
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 Heaven and earth will pass away; but my word will 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 Take heed to yourselves, that your hearts be, at no time, stupefied by gluttony and ebriety and worldly care; and so that day come upon you unawares.
“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, like a hunter's snare, it will spring upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole land.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 Be ye therefore vigilant, at all times, and prayerful; that ye may be worthy to escape the things that are to take place, and may 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, in the daytime he taught in the temple, and at night he went out and lodged in the mount, called the Place 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 came early to him in the temple, to hear his discourse.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
