The Poor Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41–44)
1 UDB Jesus looked up from where he was sitting and saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple offering box. BSB BSB: Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
2 UDB He also saw a poor widow put in two small coins of very little value. BSB BSB: and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
3 UDB And he said to his disciples, "The truth is that this poor widow has put into the offering box more money than all these rich people. BSB BSB: “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
4 UDB For they all have a lot of money, but they gave only a small part of it. But this widow, who is very poor, has given all the money that she had to buy what she needed. BSB BSB: For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Temple Destruction and Other Signs (Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)
5 UDB Some of Jesus's disciples were talking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and decorations that people had given. But Jesus said, BSB BSB: As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,
7 UDB Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will happen to show that these things are about to take place?" BSB BSB: “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 UDB Jesus replied, "Be careful that no one deceives you. For many people will come and each will claim to be me. Each will say about himself, 'I am the Christ!' They will also say, 'The time is almost here, when God will rule as king!' Do not follow after them to become their disciples! BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
9 UDB Also, whenever you hear about wars and people fighting each other, do not be terrified. For these things must happen before the end of this age. BSB BSB: When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
Witnessing to All Nations (Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)
10 UDB "Nations will attack other nations, and many kings will fight against each other. BSB BSB: Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 UDB And in many places there will be great earthquakes, famines, and terrible diseases. Many things will happen that will cause people to be very afraid, and people will see strange things in the sky that will show that something very important is going to happen. BSB BSB: There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
12 UDB But before all these things happen, they will arrest you, treat you badly, hand you over to the synagogues for trial, and hand you over to the prisons. They will put you on trial in the presence of kings and high government authorities because you follow me. BSB BSB: But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
13 UDB That will be a time for you to tell them the truth about me. BSB BSB: This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.
14 UDB So be determined not to worry ahead of time about what you will say to defend yourselves, BSB BSB: So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
15 UDB because I will give you the right words and wisdom so that you will know what to say. As a result, none of the people accusing you will be able to say you are wrong. BSB BSB: For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
16 UDB And even your parents and brothers and other relatives and friends will betray you, and they will kill some of you. BSB BSB: You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
17 UDB In general, everybody will hate you because you believe in me. BSB BSB: And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.
18 UDB But not even one hair from your head shall be destroyed. BSB BSB: Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.
19 UDB If you go through difficult times and prove your trust in God, you will save yourselves. BSB BSB: By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)
21 UDB At that time those of you who are in the region of Judea must flee to the mountains. And those of you who are in this city must leave. Those of you who are in the nearby countryside must not come into the city. BSB BSB: Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.
22 UDB For this will be the time when God will punish this city; when he does, the words in the scriptures will come true. BSB BSB: For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
23 UDB How terrible it will be for the pregnant women and those nursing their babies in those days because there will be great suffering in the land, and its people will suffer enormously because God will be angry with them. BSB BSB: How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
The Return of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)
25 UDB "At this time, strange things will happen to the sun, the moon, and the stars. And on earth, the nations will become very frightened, and they will become confused because of the roaring ocean and its huge waves. BSB BSB: There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
26 UDB People will be so afraid that they will faint because they are waiting for what will happen next in the world. The stars in the sky will have to leave from their usual places. BSB BSB: Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 UDB Then all people will see me, the Son of Man, coming in the clouds with power and brilliant light. BSB BSB: At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 UDB So when those terrible things begin to happen, stand up straight and look upward because God will soon rescue you." BSB BSB: When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)
29 UDB Then Jesus told them a parable: "Think about the fig trees, and even all the trees. BSB BSB: Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
30 UDB Whenever you see that their leaves are sprouting, you know that summer is near. BSB BSB: When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31 UDB In the same way, when you see these things that I have just described happening, you will know then that God will soon show himself as king. BSB BSB: So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 UDB I am telling you the truth: This generation of people will not come to an end before all these things that I have just now described happen. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
33 UDB The sky and the earth will come to an end, but what I tell you will never come to an end. BSB BSB: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Be Watchful for the Day 34 UDB "Be very careful to control yourselves. Do not go to parties where people are acting immorally or getting drunk. And do not carry the cares of this life with you. If you live this way, you will stop waiting for me to return. And then, at that moment, I will surprise you when I come. I will come so suddenly it will be like what happens when an animal trap springs closed without warning. BSB BSB: But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
35 UDB Indeed, I will return without warning, and that day will come when you are not ready to see me. BSB BSB: For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
36 UDB So you must be always ready for my coming. And always pray that you may be able to go through all these hard things safely, and that I, the Son of Man, declare you innocent when I come to judge the world." BSB BSB: So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 UDB Each day Jesus was teaching people in the temple. But every evening he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives. BSB BSB: Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
38 UDB And early every morning all the people came to the temple to listen to him. BSB BSB: And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.