How happy are those servants whose master finds them awake and ready when he returns! I tell you, he will take off his coat, have them sit down, and will wait on them.

And you can be sure that if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, he would not let the thief break into his house.

Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.

And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch!"

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong.

But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.

Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.

They should have desired the joy he gives; they should have constantly prayed to him.

He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God.

Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.

And pray also for me, that God will give me a message when I am ready to speak, so that I may speak boldly and make known the gospel's secret.

Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.

pray at all times,

but the men and women who are worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come will not then marry.

All of this proves that God's judgment is just and as a result you will become worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

God will do what is right: he will bring suffering on those who make you suffer,

Sinners will be condemned by God and kept apart from God's own people.

But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears? He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal.

So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,

Yes, my children, remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence---