³ And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

¹⁵ Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,^[a] so that ^(A)all may see your progress. ^16 (B)Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save ^(C)both yourself and ^(D)your hearers.

⁴ We must ^(A)work the works of him who sent me ^(B)while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

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.

¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, ^(A)do it with your might,^{[a] (B)}for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.