⁵ Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought^(A) to your ways.

⁵ Examine yourselves^(A) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(B) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(C)—unless, of course, you fail the test?

¹⁵ “‘Now give careful thought^(A) to this from this day on^[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid^(B) on another in the Lord’s temple.^{(C) 16} When anyone came to a heap^(D) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat^(E) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.^{(F) 17} I struck all the work of your hands^(G) with blight,^(H) mildew and hail,^(I) yet you did not return^(J) to me,’ declares the Lord.^{(K) 18} ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought^(L) to the day when the foundation^(M) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought:

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought^(A) to your ways.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(A) without comparing themselves to someone else,^(B)

²¹ But those who ignored^(A) the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,^(A) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(B) yourself before your God, your words^(C) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^(D)