⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted^(A) and put to death,^(B) and you will be hated by all nations because of me.^{(C) 10} At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets^(D) will appear and deceive many people.^{(E) 12} Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^{(F) 14} And this gospel of the kingdom^(G) will be preached in the whole world^(H) as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place^(I) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a](J) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let no one on the housetop^(K) go down to take anything out of the house. ¹⁸ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁹ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!^{(L) 20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(A) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(B) 15} For I will give you^(C) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(D) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(E) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(F) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(G)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(H) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(I) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(J) in fulfillment^(K) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(L) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.