The Widow’s Offering
1 tJesus1 looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the uoffering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.2 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 vAnd 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 wnot be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 xAnd they asked him, “Teacher, ywhen will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And 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. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but zthe end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 aBut before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the bsynagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before ckings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your dopportunity to bear witness. 14 eSettle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will fgive you a mouth and wisdom, which gnone of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by hparents and brothers3 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to ideath. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 jBy your endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 k“But when you see Jerusalem lsurrounded by armies, then know that its mdesolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee nto the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are odays of vengeance, to pfulfill all that is written. 23 qAlas 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 rwrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be strampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 t“And there will be signs in usun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the vpowers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man wcoming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your xredemption is drawing ynear.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 zAnd he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the akingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, bthis generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 c“But watch yourselves dlest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and ecares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But fstay 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.”
37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
O God of Our Salvation
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1 Praise is due to you,1 O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
lto you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you matone for our transgressions.
4 nBlessed is the one you choose and bring near,
oto dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being pgirded with might;
7 who qstills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the rtumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and swater it;2
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The tpastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
uthey shout and sing together for joy.
