38
A woman in the ninth month of pregnancy may suffer labor pains for several hours, but when the time comes for the baby to be born, there is no longer any delay.
39
In the same way, the disasters that are coming on the earth will not be delayed, and the world will groan when it is caught in its labor pains.
40
Listen to my message, my people, and get ready for the battle. When the disasters come, you must live as people whose home is not in this world.
41
Merchants must not expect to make a profit from what they sell; they must be ready to run for their lives. Their customers must expect to lose whatever they buy. Whoever builds a house should not plan to live in it.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.