Luke 21

₁Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, ₂and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ₃And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ₄For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

₅And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, ₆“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” ₇And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ₈And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. ₉And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

₁₀Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ₁₁There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. ₁₂But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ₁₃This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ₁₄Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ₁₅for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ₁₆You will be delivered up even by parents and brothersand relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ₁₇You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ₁₈But not a hair of your head will perish. ₁₉By your endurance you will gain your lives.

₂₀“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. ₂₁Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, ₂₂for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ₂₃Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. ₂₄They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

₂₅“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ₂₆people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ₂₇And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ₂₈Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

₂₉And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ₃₀As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. ₃₁So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ₃₂Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. ₃₃Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

₃₄“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. ₃₅For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ₃₆But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

₃₇And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. ₃₈And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.