Mark 13:33
Mark 13:33
(KJV) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
(1611 KJV) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
(1587 Geneva Bible) Take heede: watch, and praie: for yee knowe not when the time is.
(1526 Tyndale) Take hede watche and praye for ye knowe not when the tyme ys.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) “Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.
(NIV) Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
(NASV) Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
(THE MESSAGE) So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable.
(AMP) Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.
(NLT) And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!
(ESV) Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
(CEV) So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come.
(NCV) Be careful! Always be ready, because you don't know when that time will be.
(HCSB) Watch! Be alert! For you don't know when the time is [coming].
(NIRV) "Keep watch! Stay awake! You do not know when that time will come.
(RSV) Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
(NWT - Jehovah’s Witnesses) Keep looking, keep awake, for YOU do not know when the appointed time is.
 
Textus Receptus
blepete agrupneite kai proseucesqe ouk oidate gar pote o kairoV estin
 
Hort-Westcott Critical Text
blepete agrupneite ouk oidate gar pote o kairoV [estin]
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
　
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
L 019 - Seventh century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century
038 - (Majuscule) Ninth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “and pray” after watch
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
(1 Th 5:17 KJV) Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands the believer to pray without ceasing. This means we are to pray about everything in our life, which includes both the spiritual and the physical. We are to make our petitions known to God, and of course, He already knows them before we even approach Him. Prayer is our communication between us and our Heavenly Father. Here in Mark 13:33, the modern versions omit the second half of the command of the Lord Jesus Christ which is not only to watch, but to pray along with that watching. Mark 13 is a chapter which contains information about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are commanded not only to watch, which can be understood as “keep awake or remain vigilant,” but along with that vigilance we are to pray. Since Mark 13 is a prophetic chapter, there is much being published today by people and groups concerning the Lord’s return and we must not only pray to remain focused on the Lord’s return but we are to pray to remain aloof from false and unbiblical teachings about His return. If we are not careful we can fall for everyone who has a prediction about the return of Christ which can take us out of the Bible and into the evil habit of following a man and his teachings.
 
So many books have been published and so many have set dates for the return of Christ that there will be mass confusion if we choose to divert from Scripture and follow the fanciful teachings of someone. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth but it behooves us to pray about what we seek to learn. It seems the modern versions do not want us to pray about such matters and that is why there are so many views and false teachings surrounding the Lord’s return, people are simply creating belief systems and are not praying for guidance. As we enter 2010, we must remain extremely vigilant in prayer and true Bible study because as we progress in time, many teachings will get more and more false with the ability to draw us in. That is why we are not only to watch but to pray, they go together.

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