Luke 21
1 He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting 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 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two [small] copper coins.
3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,
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 these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, 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 “As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will 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 They asked him, “Rabbi, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
[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 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow 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 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come 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 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 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great 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 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
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 It will turn out as a testimony for you.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
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 adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
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 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
[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 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
“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 who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.
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, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
[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 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land 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 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are 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 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;
“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 men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on 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 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 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
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 He told them a parable. “See 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 are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom 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 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
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 words will by no means 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 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
“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 it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, 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 Every day Yeshua was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
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 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
