Luke 21

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

1Jesus looked up. He saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple money box.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

2He also saw a poor widow. A widow is a woman whose husband has died. She put in two tiny coins.

NoteThe old word is "mites." These were the smallest copper coins people used. Two of them were worth almost nothing.

3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

3He said, "I am telling you the truth. This poor widow gave more than all the others."

4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

4"They all gave money they did not really need. She is poor. She gave everything she had to live on."

5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

5Some people were talking about the temple. They said its stones and gifts were lovely. Jesus said,

6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

6"You see all this now. But a day is coming when every stone will be knocked down."

7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

7They asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? What sign will show us it is about to happen?"

8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

8Jesus said, "Be careful. Do not let anyone fool you. Many people will come using my name. They will say, 'I am the one,' and, 'The time is here.' Do not follow them."

9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

9"You will hear about wars and fighting. Do not be scared. These things must happen first. But the end will not come right away."

NoteThe old words "not by and by" mean "not right away." Back then, "by and by" meant immediately.

10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

10Then he told them, "One country will fight another country. One kingdom will fight another kingdom."

11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

11"There will be big earthquakes in many places. There will be times with no food, and bad sickness. Scary sights and great signs will come from the sky."

12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

12"But before all that, people will grab you and hurt you. They will hand you over to the synagogues, the places where Jews met to worship. They will put you in prison. You will stand before kings and rulers because you belong to me."

13And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

13"That will give you a chance to tell them about me."

14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

14"So decide now. Do not worry ahead of time about what you will say."

15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

15"I will give you the right words and good sense. Your enemies will not be able to argue back."

16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

16"Even your parents, brothers, other family, and friends will turn against you. Some of you will be killed."

17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

17"Everyone will hate you because you belong to me."

18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

18"But not even one hair on your head will be lost."

19In your patience possess ye your souls.

19"Keep going and do not give up. That is how you will keep your lives."

20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

20"When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know the city will soon be ruined."

21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

21"Then people in Judea should run to the hills. People inside the city should leave. People out in the country should stay away from it."

22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

22"These are the days when God pays back what is wrong. Everything written will come true."

23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

23"Those days will be very hard for women who are having babies. They will be hard for mothers feeding babies. There will be great trouble in the land and anger against these people."

24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

24"Some will be killed with swords. Others will be taken away as prisoners to many countries. People from other nations will walk all over Jerusalem. That will go on until their time is finished."

25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

25"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. On earth, whole nations will be upset and confused. The sea and its big waves will roar."

26Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

26"People will faint from fear. They will worry about what is coming to the earth. The powers of the heavens will be shaken."

27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

27"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory."

Note"Son of Man" is the name Jesus often used for himself.

28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

28"When these things start to happen, stand up and lift your heads. God is coming soon to set you free."

29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

29Then Jesus told them a story. "Look at the fig tree, and all the other trees."

30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

30"When new leaves come out, you see it. You know by yourselves that summer is close."

31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

31"It is the same for you. When you see these things happen, you will know God's kingdom is close."

32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

32"I am telling you the truth. The people living now will still be here when all this happens."

33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

33"The sky and the earth will one day be gone. But my words will never be gone."

34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

34"Watch yourselves. Do not let wild parties, too much drinking, or worries fill your heart. If they do, that day will surprise you."

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

35"It will come like a trap on everyone living anywhere on the earth."

36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

36"So keep watching, and pray all the time. Then you will be strong enough to get through all this. And you will stand before the Son of Man."

37And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

37Every day Jesus taught in the temple. Every night he went out to the hill called the Mount of Olives.

38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

38Early each morning all the people came to the temple to hear him.