Luke 21

1He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.

2He also saw a poor widow putting in two lepta.

3He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

4For all these people gave their gifts out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

5Some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings dedicated to God. But he said,

6“As for these things that you are looking at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be torn down.”

7They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8He said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time has come near.’ Do not follow them.

9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be terrified. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places. There will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.

12But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

13This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.

14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

15for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

17You will be hated by everyone because of my name.

18But not a hair of your head will perish.

19By your endurance, gain your lives.

20When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not go into it.

22For these are days of punishment, to fulfill all that is written.

23How terrible it will be in those days for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing babies! For there will be great distress on the land and wrath against this people.

24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth nations will be in anguish, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

26People will faint from fear and dread of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28When these things begin to happen, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

30As soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is already near.

31In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34Be on your guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down with carousing and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day comes upon you suddenly

35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.

36So stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37Every day he was teaching in the temple, and every night he went out and spent the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

38And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to him in the temple and listen to him.