The endof all thingsis near;therefore,be of sound judgmentand sober[spirit] for the purpose of prayer.
So they made their fatherdrinkwinethat nightalso,and the youngeraroseand laywith him; and he did not knowwhen she laydownor when she arose.
Then Godsaidto Noah,"The endof allfleshhas comebeforeMe; for the earthis filledwith violencebecauseof them; and behold,I am about to destroythem with the earth.
It is betterto goto a houseof mourningThanto goto a houseof feasting,Becausethat is the endof everyman,And the livingtakes[it] to heart.
The prophetsprophesyfalsely,And the priestsruleon their [own] authority;And My peopleloveit so!But whatwill you doat the endof it?
An endis coming;the endhas come!It has awakenedagainstyou; behold,it has come!
"Thereforebe on the alert,for you do not knowwhichdayyour Lordis coming.
"Be on the alertthen,for you do not knowthe daynorthe hour.
"Be on guard,sothat your heartswill not be weighted downwith dissipationand drunkennessand the worriesof life,and that daywill not comeon you suddenlylikea trap;
"But keep on the alertat alltimes,prayingthat you may have strengthto escapeallthese thingsthat are aboutto take place,and to standbeforethe Sonof Man."
and saidto them, "Whyare you sleeping?Getup and praythat you may not enterinto temptation."
rejoicingin hope,perseveringin tribulation,devotedto prayer,
then[comes] the end,whenHe handsover the kingdomto the Godand Father,whenHe has abolishedallruleand allauthorityand power.
But thisI say,brethren,the timehas beenshortened,sothat from nowon thosewho havewivesshould be as thoughthey hadnone;
With allprayerand petitionprayat alltimesin the Spirit,and with thisin view,be on the alertwith allperseveranceand petitionfor allthe saints,
Let your gentle[spirit] be knownto allmen.The Lordis near.
Devote yourselvesto prayer,keeping alertin it with [an attitude of] thanksgiving;
But you, be soberin all things,endure hardship,dothe workof an evangelist,fulfillyour ministry.
instructingus to denyungodlinessand worldlydesiresand to livesensibly,righteouslyand godlyin the presentage,
not forsakingour ownassembling together,as is the habitof some,but encouraging[one another]; and allthe moreas you seethe daydrawing near.
Otherwise,He would have neededto sufferoftensincethe foundationof the world;but nowonceat the consummationof the agesHe has been manifestedto put awaysinby the sacrificeof Himself.
Therefore,prepareyour mindsfor action, keep sober[in spirit], fix your hopecompletelyon the graceto be broughtto you at the revelationof JesusChrist.
You husbandsin the same way,livewith [your wives] in an understanding way,as with someoneweaker,since she is a woman;and showher honoras a fellow heirof the graceof life,sothat your prayerswill not be hindered.
Be of sober[spirit], be on the alert.Your adversary,the devil,prowls aroundlikea roaringlion,seekingsomeoneto devour.
("Behold,I am cominglikea thief.Blessedis the one who stays awakeand keepshis clothes,sothat he will not walk aboutnakedand men will not seehis shame.")
