preparation

¹⁵But sanctify Christ the Lord in your hearts, being always ready to give an explanation to all who ask you the reason for that hope which is in you.

³The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.

⁶Go to the ant, you lazy one, and consider her ways, and so learn wisdom. ⁷For though she has no ruler, nor instructor, nor leader, ⁸she provides meals for herself in the summer, and she gathers at the harvest what she may eat.

²⁷Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.

³⁶And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man.”

³³These things I have spoken to you, so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you will have difficulties. But have confidence: I have overcome the world.”

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?

⁴⁴For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return.

¹And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind. ²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

¹¹And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed.

¹⁵Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly.

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.’

¹³But whoever will have persevered until the end, the same shall be saved.

⁴²Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return.