Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 As Jesus left the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look! What awesome stones and buildings!"
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As Jesus was going out of the temple courtyard, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these huge stones and these beautiful buildings!"
2 Jesus responded, "Do you see these enormous buildings? Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished."
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Jesus said to him, "Do you see these large buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."
3 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
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As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the temple buildings, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4 "Tell us, when will these things happen? What sign will show that all these things are about to come to an end?"
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"Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will come to an end?"
5 Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you.
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Jesus answered them, "Be careful not to let anyone deceive you.
6 Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I'm the one!' They will deceive many people.
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Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he,' and they will deceive many people.
7 When you hear of wars and reports of wars, don't be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn't the end yet.
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"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don't mean that the end has come.
8 Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be earthquakes and famines in all sorts of places. These things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end.
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Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains [of the end].
9 “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testify before them.
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"Be on your guard! People will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings to testify to them because of me.
10 First, the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations.
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But first, the Good News must be spread to all nations.
11 When they haul you in and hand you over, don't worry ahead of time about what to answer or say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that moment, for you aren't doing the speaking but the Holy Spirit is.
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When they take you away to hand you over to the authorities, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you to say when the time comes. Indeed, you are not the one who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.
12 Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to death. A father will turn in his children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them executed.
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"Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them.
13 Everyone will hate you because of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved.
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Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
14 “When you see the disgusting and destructive thing standing where it shouldn't be (the reader should understand this), then those in Judea must escape to the mountains.
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"When you see the disgusting thing that will cause destruction standing where it should not (let the reader take note), those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains.
15 Those on the roof shouldn't come down or enter their houses to grab anything.
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Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses.
16 Those in the field shouldn't come back to grab their clothes.
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Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.
17 How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant and for women who are nursing their children.
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"How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days.
18 Pray that it doesn't happen in winter.
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Pray that it will not be in winter.
19 In those days there will be great suffering such as the world has never before seen and will never again see.
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It will be a time of misery that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and will certainly never happen again.
20 If the Lord hadn't shortened that time, no one would be rescued. But for the sake of the chosen ones, the ones whom God chose, he has cut short the time.
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If the Lord does not reduce that time, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.
21 “Then if someone says to you, ‘Look, here's the Christ,' or ‘There he is,' don't believe it.
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"At that time don't believe anyone who tells you, 'Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'
22 False christs and false prophets will appear, and they will offer signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.
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False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.
23 But you, watch out! I've told you everything ahead of time.
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Be on your guard! I have told you everything before it happens.
24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won't give its light.
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"Now, after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light,
25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken.
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the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor.
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"Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.
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He will send out his angels, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.
28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near.
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"Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know summer is near.
29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he's near, at the door.
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In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that he is near, at the door.
30 I assure you that this generation won't pass away until all these things happen.
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"I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
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The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
32 "But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows.
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"No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows.
33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don't know when the time is coming.
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Be careful! Watch! You don't know the exact time.
34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert.
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It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.
35 Therefore, stay alert! You don't know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak.
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Therefore, be alert, because you don't know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning.
36 Don't let him show up when you weren't expecting and find you sleeping.
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Make sure he doesn't come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!"
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I'm telling everyone what I'm telling you: 'Be alert!'"
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.