¹² He who is ^(A)a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and ^(B)leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and ^(C)scatters them.

³ And ^(A)in their greed they will exploit you ^(B)with false words. ^(C)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

^2 (A)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[a] (B)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[b] (C)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Persecution Will Come

^16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^(B)wise as serpents and ^(C)innocent as doves.

A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves.

¹⁶ For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd ^(A)who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but ^(B)devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.

⁷ For an overseer,^{[a] (A)}as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(B)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(C)or greedy for gain,

¹⁰ For ^(A)Demas, ^(B)in love with ^(C)this present world, ^(D)has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,^{[a] (E)}Titus to Dalmatia.