¶ As he beheld, he saw the rich men, how they cast in their offerings into the treasury. He saw also a certain poor widow, which cast in thither two mites. And he said: of a truth I say unto you, this poor widow hath put in more than they all. For they all have of their superfluity added unto the offering of God: But she, of her penury, hath cast in all the substance that she had.
¶ As some spake of the temple, how it was garnished with goodly stones, and jewels, he said. The days will come, when of these things which ye see, shall not be left stone upon stone that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying: Master when shall these things be. And what signs will there be, when such things shall come to pass.
¶ And he said: take heed, that ye be not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying of themselves, I am he. And the time draweth near. Follow ye not them therefore. But when ye hear of war, and of dissension: be not afraid, for these things must first come: but the end followeth not by and by. Then said he unto them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.
¶ But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up, to the synagogues, and into prison, and bring you before kings, And rulers for my name's sake. And this shall chance you for a testimonial. Let it stick therefore fast in your hearts, not once to study before, what ye shall answer for yourselves: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, where against, all your adversaries shall not be able to speak nor resist. Yea and ye shall be betrayed of your fathers and mothers, and of your brethren, and kinsmen, and lovers. And some of you shall they put to death. And hated shall ye be of all men for my name's sake. Yet there shall not one hair of your heads perish. With your patience, possess your souls.
¶ And when ye see Ierusalem besieged with an host, then understand, that the desolation of the same is nye. Then let them which are in jewry fly to the mountains. And let them which are in the midst of it, depart out. And let not them that are in other countries, enter there in. For these be the days of vengeance, to fulfil all that are written. But woe be to them that be with child, and to them that give suck in those days, for there shall be great trouble in the land: and wrath over all this people. And they shall fall on the edge of the sword. And they shall be led captive into all nations. And Ierusalem shall be trodden underfoot of the gentiles, until the time of the gentiles be fulfilled.
¶ And there shall be signs, in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and in the earth the people shall be in such perplexity, that they shall not tell which way to turn themselves. The sea and the waves shall roar, and men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which shall come on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall move. And then shall they see the son of man come in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to come to pass: then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nye.
¶ And he shewed them a similitude: behold the fig tree, and all other trees, when they shoot forth their buds, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is then nye at hand. So likewise ye (when ye see these things come to pass) understand, that the kingdom of God is nye. Verily I say unto you: this generation shall not pass, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass: but my words shall not pass.
¶ Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcome, with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this world: and that, that day come on you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that sit on the face of the earth. Watch therefore continually and pray, that ye may scape all this that shall come. And that ye may stand before the son of man. In the day time taught he in the temple, and at night, he went out, and had abiding in the mount olivete. And all the people came in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526