Mark 13:34

³² No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

³³ Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.

It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.

³⁵ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.

³⁶ Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
KJV: For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
WEB: “It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
ASV: [It is] as [when] a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.
DARBY: [it is] as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.
BLB: [It is] like a man going on a journey, having left his house and having given his servants authority, to each his work. And he commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.

ÅB: Slik som en mann som dro utenlands og forlot sitt hus og overgav sine tjenere styret, enhver sin gjerning, og befalte dørvokteren at han skulle våke,
OTB: Det er som en mann som drar på reise, som forlater huset sitt og setter tjenerne sine til å passe på, hver med sin oppgave, og instruerer dørvakten om å holde vakt.
B1930: Likesom en mann som drog utenlands og forlot sitt hus og overgav sine tjenere styret, enhver sin gjerning, og bød dørvokteren at han skulde våke,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

John 10:3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Read in context
Matthew 25:14–30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
Read in context
Luke 12:36–40
Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
Read in context
Matthew 24:45–47
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Read in context
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Read in context
Ezekiel 3:17–21
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
Read in context
Ezekiel 33:2–9
“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
Read in context
Colossians 3:24
because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Read in context