Luke 21 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Jesus looked up and saw wealthy people dropping their gifts into the temple treasury.

He also saw a poor widow drop in two tiny copper coins.

He said, "I'm telling you the truth — this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

All these people gave their gifts out of their surplus, but she — out of her poverty — put in everything she had to live on."

Some of them were talking about the temple — how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. Jesus said,

"These things you're admiring? The time is coming when not one stone will be left standing on another. Every one of them will be torn down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what will be the sign that it's about to take place?"

He said, "Be careful not to be deceived. Many people will come claiming to speak for me, saying, 'I am the one!' and 'The time is near!' Don't follow them.

When you hear about wars and uprisings, don't panic. These things have to happen first, but the end won't come right away."

Then he told them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be massive earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, along with terrifying events and powerful signs from the sky.

But before all this happens, they will seize you and persecute you. They'll hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you'll be dragged before kings and governors because of my name.

This will be your opportunity to tell people about me.

So make up your minds ahead of time not to rehearse your defense,

because I'll give you the words and the wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or argue against.

You'll be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

Everyone will hate you because of me.

But not a single hair on your head will be lost.

By standing firm, you will gain your lives.

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, understand that its destruction is near.

Then those in Judea should run for the hills. Those inside the city should get out, and those in the countryside should not go into the city,

because those will be days of payback, when everything written in Scripture will be fulfilled.

How terrible it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! There will be enormous suffering across the land and fury directed at this people.

They'll be cut down by the sword and taken as prisoners to every nation. Jerusalem will be trampled by non-Jewish nations until their time runs out.

"There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be in anguish, confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will faint from fear and dread of what's coming on the world, because the powers of the sky will be shaken.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and magnificent glory.

When these things begin to happen, stand up straight and lift your heads, because your rescue is getting close."

He told them a comparison: "Look at the fig tree, and all the other trees.

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is near.

In the same way, when you see these things happening, you'll know that God's kingdom is near.

I'm telling you the truth — this generation will not pass away until all of this has happened.

The sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

"Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by wild living, drunkenness, and the anxieties of everyday life, and that day will catch you off guard like a trap.

It will come on everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth.

Stay alert at all times, and pray that you'll have the strength to escape everything that's going to happen and to stand before the Son of Man."

Every day Jesus taught in the temple, but each evening he went out and spent the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

And all the people would get up early in the morning to come hear him at the temple.