Matthew 10:16-25 "Now look, and really see this situation: I, Myself, am now sending you folks off – being emissaries on a mission – as sheep within the midst of a pack of wolves! Therefore, habitually come to be thoughtful, prudent, cautious and discreet (or: = wary and on the alert; = observant, decisive and timely) – as the snakes are; and yet still unmixed (pure; = without negative characteristics added)

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁶ "Now look, and really see this situation: I, Myself, am now sending you folks off – being emissaries on a mission – as sheep within the midst of [a pack of] wolves! Therefore, habitually come to be thoughtful, prudent, cautious and discreet (or: = wary and on the alert; = observant, decisive and timely) – as the snakes [are]; and yet [still] unmixed (pure; = without negative characteristics added) – as the doves [are]. ¹⁷ "So constantly hold your attention toward protecting yourself from humanity. You see, they will periodically be giving you folks over (turning you in) unto [their] local city councils and courts, and then they will proceed scourging you with lashes and whips. ¹⁸ "Yet you men will also, on My account, be from time to time led (or: brought) before (or: on [the stand to speak to]) governors and kings, with a view to being a witness to them and providing evidence for them – as well as to and for and among the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the non-Israelites; = the pagans). ¹⁹ "However, whenever they may hand you folks over (turn you in), you should not be anxious or overly concerned about how or what you should be speaking, for, what you should say will continue being given to you men – within that hour! ²⁰ "You see, you, yourselves, are not the ones then speaking, but rather, [it is] the Spirit (Breath-effect; Attitude) of your Father repeatedly speaking within you. ²¹ "So brother will continue giving over (turn in) brother unto death – and a father, a child – and children will continue standing up upon (or: rising up against or attacking) parents and will from time to time murder them, or cause them to be put to death. ²² "And further, you folks will continue being hated and regarded with ill-will by everyone – because of My Name. Yet the one remaining under [these conditions] and patiently enduring into a conclusion (or: into an ending [of these events]; unto [the] final act) – this one will habitually be rescued (delivered; saved; restored to health and wholeness). ²³ "Now whenever they may continue chasing you or be repeatedly persecuting you in this [particular] city, proceed taking flight (escaping) into a different one, for, truly – I now say to you folks – you can under no circumstances complete the circuit of (or: finish [visiting]) the cities (or: towns) of Israel until the Son of the Man (humanity's son; = Adam's son; or: = the awaited Messianic figure) should go (or: comes; can come). ²⁴ "A student (or: disciple) is not over or above the teacher, nor [is] a slave over or above his owner. ²⁵ " [It is] sufficient and enough for the student (or: disciple) that he can come to be as his teacher, and the slave as his owner. Since (or: If) people call and surname the Sovereign (Master and Sole Owner) of the house (the Householder) 'Beelzeboul' [spellings vary; = lord of the flies, a Philistine deity], how much rather (or: more) those of His household.