management

²⁸For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it?

⁴⁰But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.

¹¹So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true?

²⁰There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.

¹⁴Where there is no governor, the people shall fall. But where there is much counsel, well-being shall be.

⁹The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.

²³Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

¹⁵And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish, ¹⁶but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time. ¹⁷For this reason, do not choose to be imprudent. Instead, understand what is the will of God.

⁵The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.

¹Where do wars and contentions among you come from? Is it not from this: from your own desires, which battle within your members? ²You desire, and you do not have. You envy and you kill, and you are unable to obtain. You argue and you fight, and you do not have, because you do not ask.

¹“So then, if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, so as to keep and do all of his commandments, which I instruct to you this day, the Lord your God will cause you to be more exalted than all the nations which exist upon the earth. ²And all these blessings shall come to you and take hold of you, but only if you listen to his precepts. ³Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed in the field. ⁴Blessed shall be the fruit of your loins, and the fruit of your land, and the fruit of your cattle, the droves of your herds, and the folds of your sheep. ⁵Blessed shall be your barns, and blessed your storehouses. ⁶Blessed shall you be entering and departing.

⁴I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night is coming, when no one is able to work.

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride. ²But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them. ⁴Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps. ⁵Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping. ⁶But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.’

¹Now there was a man among the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He went to Jesus at night, and he said to him: “Rabbi, we know that you have arrived as a teacher from God. For no one would be able to accomplish these signs, which you accomplish, unless God were with him.” ³Jesus responded and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him: “How could a man be born when he is old? Surely, he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be reborn?” ⁵Jesus responded: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

²²The good leave behind heirs: children and grandchildren. And the substance of the sinner is preserved for the just.