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.

³ Go your way; ^(A)behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, ^(A)children of God ^(B)without blemish ^(C)in the midst of ^(D)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine ^(E)as lights in the world,

²⁰ Brothers, ^(A)do not be children in your thinking. ^(B)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^(C)mature.

^5 (A)Walk in wisdom toward ^(B)outsiders, making the best use of the time.

^15 (A)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (B)making the best use of the time, because ^(C)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(D)the will of the Lord is.

¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but ^(A)their own appetites,^[a] and ^(B)by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹ For ^(C)your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you ^(D)to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

²⁹ I ^(A)know that after my departure ^(B)fierce wolves will come in among you, ^(C)not sparing the flock;

¹⁵ for ^(A)I will give you a mouth and ^(B)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or ^(C)contradict.