Luke 21
Jesus commends a poor widow who casts two mites into the treasury, giving more than all the rest. He foretells the destruction of the temple and the signs of the end — wars, earthquakes, persecution, and Jerusalem surrounded by armies — and warns His disciples to watch and pray.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. | He looked up and saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the offering box. |
| 2 | And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. | He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. |
| 3 | And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: | He said, "Truly I say to You, this poor widow has put in more than all of them." |
| 4 | For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. | "For all these have given out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all the living she had." |
| 5 | And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, | As some were speaking about the temple — how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings — He said, |
| 6 | As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. | "As for these things that You see — the days will come when there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." |
| 7 | And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? | They asked Him, "Master, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" |
| 8 | And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. | He said, "Watch out that You are not deceived. Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The time is near.' Do not go after them." |
| 9 | But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. | "When You hear of wars and uprisings, do not be terrified. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." |
| 10 | Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: | Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." |
| 11 | And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. | "There will be great earthquakes in various places, famines, and plagues. There will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven." |
| 12 | But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. | "But before all this, they will lay their hands on You and persecute You. They will hand You over to synagogues and prisons, bringing You before kings and governors because of My name." |
| 13 | And it shall turn to you for a testimony. | "This will be Your opportunity to testify." |
| 14 | Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: | "Settle it in Your hearts not to plan Your defense beforehand." |
| 15 | For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. | "For I will give You words and wisdom that none of Your opponents will be able to contradict or resist." |
| 16 | And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. | "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. Some of You will be put to death." |
| 17 | And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. | "You will be hated by everyone because of My name." |
| 18 | But there shall not an hair of your head perish. | "But not a hair of Your head will perish." |
| 19 | In your patience possess ye your souls. | "By Your endurance You will gain Your lives." |
| 20 | And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. | "When You see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its destruction is near." |
| 21 | Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. | "Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let those who are inside the city get out. Let those who are in the countryside not enter it." |
| 22 | For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. | "For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill everything that is written." |
| 23 | But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. | "How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant and for nursing mothers in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people." |
| 24 | And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. | "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." |
| 25 | And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; | "There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth the nations will be in anguish and confusion as the seas roar and toss." |
| 26 | Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. | "People will faint from terror at what is coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." |
| 27 | And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. | "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." |
| 28 | And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. | "When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift Your heads, because Your redemption is drawing near." |
| 29 | And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; | He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees." |
| 30 | When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. | "When they put out leaves, You see for yourselves and know that summer is already near." |
| 31 | So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. | "So also, when You see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near." |
| 32 | Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. | "Truly I say to You, this generation will not pass away until all has been fulfilled." |
| 33 | Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away." |
| 34 | And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. | "Be careful, or Your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life. That day will close on You suddenly." |
| 35 | For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. | "For it will come like a trap on everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth." |
| 36 | Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. | "So watch at all times, and pray that You may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man." |
| 37 | And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. | Every day He was teaching in the temple. At night He went out and stayed on the mount called the Mount of Olives. |
| 38 | And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. | All the people came to him early in the morning at the temple to hear Him. |