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

⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(A) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(B) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(C)

³⁰ Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? ³¹ As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom^(A) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

³² “Why^(B) should he be put to death? What^(C) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. ³³ But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended^(D) to kill David.

³ At one time^(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.