Shared Word Translation
Mark 13
The Temple’s Destruction Foretold
And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs and Warnings
And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be completed?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am,’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be alarmed; these things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
But watch yourselves. They will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, as a witness to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all the nations. And when they lead you away and hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand about what you should speak, but whatever is given to you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and put them to death. And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end, this one will be saved.
The Desolating Abomination
But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not—let the reader understand—then let those in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one on the housetop not go down nor enter to take anything out of his house, and let the one in the field not turn back to take his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those nursing infants in those days! And pray that it may not happen in winter. For those days will be distress, such as has not been from the beginning of creation that God created until now, and never shall be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he cut short the days.
And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But you, watch; I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
But in those days, after that distress,
‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.’
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
And then he will send the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of earth to the end of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Now from the fig tree learn the parable: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So also you, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors. Truly I say to you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Watchfulness
But concerning that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Watch; stay awake; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man away on a journey, having left his house and given authority to his servants, to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Therefore watch—for you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”