New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury;
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And looking up, he saw the men of wealth putting their offerings in the money-box.
2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
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And he saw a certain poor widow putting in a farthing.
3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;
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And he said, Truly I say to you, This poor widow has given more than all of them:
4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
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For they gave out of their wealth, having more than enough for themselves: but she, even out of her need, has put in all her living.
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,
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And some were talking about the Temple, how it was made fair with beautiful stones and with offerings, but he said,
6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."
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As for these things which you see, the days will come when not one stone will be resting on another, but all will be broken down.
7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"
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And they said to him, Master, when will these things be? and what sign will there be when these events are to take place?
8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and, "The time is near!' Do not go after them.
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And he said, Take care that you are not tricked: for a number of people will come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is near: do not go after them.
9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."
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And when news of wars and troubled times comes to your ears, have no fear; for these things have to be, but the end will not be now.
10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
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Then he said to them, Nation will be moved against nation and kingdom against kingdom:
11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
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There will be great earth-shocks and outbursts of disease in a number of places, and men will be without food; and there will be wonders and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
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But before all this, they will take you and be very cruel to you, giving you up to the Synagogues and to prisons, taking you before kings and rulers, because of my name.
13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.
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And it will be turned to a witness for you.
14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
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So take care not to be troubled before the time comes, about what answers you will give:
15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
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For I will give you words and wisdom, so that not one of those who are against you will be able to get the better of you, or to put you in the wrong.
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
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But you will be given up even by your fathers and mothers, your brothers and relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death.
17 You will be hated by all because of my name.
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And you will be hated by all men, because of me.
18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
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But not a hair of your head will come to destruction.
19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
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By going through all these things, you will keep your lives.
20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
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But when you see armies all round about Jerusalem, then be certain that her destruction is near.
21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it;
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Then let those who are in Judaea go in flight to the mountains; and those who are in the middle of the town go out; and let not those who are in the country come in.
22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written.
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For these are the days of punishment, in which all the things in the Writings will be put into effect.
23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people;
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It will be hard for women who are with child, and for her with a baby at the breast, in those days. For great trouble will come on the land, and wrath on this people.
24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
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And they will be put to death with the sword, and will be taken as prisoners into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be crushed under the feet of the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles are complete.
25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
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And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth, fear among the nations and doubt because of the loud noise of the sea and the waves;
26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
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Men's strength will go from them in fear and in waiting for the things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of the heavens will be moved.
27 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.
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And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory.
28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
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But when these things come about, let your heads be lifted up, because your salvation is near.
29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees;
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And he made a story for them: See the fig-tree, and all the trees;
30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.
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When they put out their young leaves, you take note of it, and it is clear to you that summer is coming.
31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
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In the same way, when you see these things taking place you may be certain that the kingdom of God is near.
32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.
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Truly I say to you, This generation will not come to an end till all things are complete.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
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Heaven and earth will come to an end, but my words will not come to an end.
34 "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly,
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But give attention to yourselves, for fear that your hearts become over-full of the pleasures of food and wine, and the cares of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly, and take you as in a net:
35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.
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For so it will come on all those who are living on the face of all the earth.
36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
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But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be strong enough to come through all these things and take your place before the Son of man.
37 Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.
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And every day he was teaching in the Temple and every night he went out to the mountain which is named the Mountain of Olives to take his rest.
38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.
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And all the people came early in the morning to give ear to his words in the Temple.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.