^12 (A)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(B)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(C)the day of visitation.

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, ¹⁶ holding fast to ^(F)the word of life, so that in ^(G)the day of Christ ^(H)I may be proud that ^(I)I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

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.

²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, ^(A)even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.