"But be sureof this,that ifthe head of the househad knownat whattime of the nightthe thiefwas coming,he would have been on the alertand would not have allowedhis houseto be brokeninto.
"In the darkthey diginto houses,They shutthemselves up by day;They do not knowthe light.
"For my husbandis not at home,He has goneon a longjourney;
And in the fourthwatchof the nightHe cameto them, walkingon the sea.
"When they receivedit, they grumbledat the landowner,
"Thereforebe on the alert,for you do not knowwhichdayyour Lordis coming.
"For thisreasonyou alsomust be ready;for the Sonof Manis comingat an hourwhenyou do not think[He will].
"And while they were going awayto make the purchase,the bridegroomcame,and thosewho were readywentin with him to the wedding feast;and the doorwas shut.
"Be on the alertthen,for you do not knowthe daynorthe hour.
"Therefore,be on the alert--for you do not knowwhenthe masterof the houseis coming,whetherin the evening,at midnight,orwhenthe rooster crows,orin the morning--
Seeingthem strainingat the oars,for the windwas againstthem, at aboutthe fourthwatchof the nightHe cameto them, walkingon the sea;and He intendedto passby them.
"Whetherhe comesin the secondwatch,or evenin the third,and finds[them] so,blessedare those[slaves].
"But be sureof this,that ifthe head of the househad knownat whathourthe thiefwas coming,he would not have allowedhis houseto be brokeninto.
"But keep on the alertat alltimes,prayingthat you may have strengthto escapeallthese thingsthat are aboutto take place,and to standbeforethe Sonof Man."
("Behold,I am cominglikea thief.Blessedis the one who stays awakeand keepshis clothes,sothat he will not walk aboutnakedand men will not seehis shame.")
Sorememberwhatyou have receivedand heard;and keep[it], and repent.Thereforeifyou do not wakeup, I will comelikea thief,and you will not knowat whathourI will cometo you.
