¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^(B)

³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.^(A)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(A) In regard to evil be infants,^(B) but in your thinking be adults.

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(A)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(B) because the days are evil.^{(C) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^(D)

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(A) or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless^(B) and pure, “children of God^(C) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[a](D) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(E) that I did not run^(F) or labor in vain.^(G)

²² reject every kind of evil.

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(A) said, “I am making everything new!”^(B) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(C)