Luke 21
1 And having looked 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 there casting 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 cast in more than they 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 all these cast into the offerings of God from their abundance, but this woman from her poverty cast in all the living that she had.
5 And as some spoke about the temple, that it was adorned with fine 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 These things that ye see, the days will come during which there will not be left a stone upon a stone 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 And they questioned him, saying, Teacher, when therefore will these things be? And what is the sign when these things are going 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 And he said, Watch that ye may not be led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, I am, and, The time has come near. Go ye not therefore 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 tumults, do not be alarmed, for these things must first happen, but the end is not straightaway.
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 And great earthquakes will be in various places, and famines and plagues. And there will be fearful sights and great signs from the sky.
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 throw their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers 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 But it will go out from you for testimony.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 Settle therefore in your hearts not to premeditate to make defense.
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 that all those who oppose you will not be able to contradict or to 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 ye will be betrayed even by parents, and kinsmen, and friends, and brothers. And some of you they will condemn 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 And ye will be hated by all men because of my name.
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 And, no, not a hair of your head will perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 In your perseverance ye gain your souls.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 But when ye see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation of it has come near.
“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 flee to the mountains, and let those in the midst of it depart out, and let not those in the rural areas enter 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 days of vengeance to fulfill all things that are 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 those who have in the womb, and to those who suckle in those days. For there will be great distress upon 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 And they will fall by the jaw of the sword, and will be led away captive into all the nations. And 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 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, roaring of sea and of tossing,
“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 fainting of men from fear, and of anticipation of the 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 much 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 begin to happen, stand upright, and lift up your heads, because your redemption approaches.
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 are now sprouting, ye know seeing for yourselves that summer is now near.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 Even so ye, when ye see these things happening, 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 Truly I say to you, that this generation will, no, not pass away until all things happen.
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 The sky and the earth will pass away, but my words may, no, 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 be weighed down in debauchery and drunkenness and mundane cares, and that day come upon you sudden.
“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 trap upon all those who sit upon the face of all the earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, making supplication at all times, so that ye may be considered worthy to escape all these things going to 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 And during the days he was teaching in the temple, and going forth the nights, he lodged on the mount that is called 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 rose 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.
