¹⁶ See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves.

³ Go on your way: see, I send you out like lambs among wolves.

²⁹ I am conscious that after I am gone, evil wolves will come in among you, doing damage to the flock;

¹⁵ So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

²⁰ My brothers, do not be children in mind: in evil be as little children, but in mind be of full growth.

⁵ Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time.

³ But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

¹ Now the snake was wiser than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God truly said that you may not take of the fruit of any tree in the garden?

¹⁸ For such people are not servants of the Lord Christ, but of their stomachs; and by their smooth and well-said words the hearts of those who have no knowledge of evil are tricked.

¹⁹ For all have knowledge of how you do what you are ordered. For this reason I have joy in you, but it is my desire that you may be wise in what is good, and without knowledge of evil.

¹⁵ Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;

¹⁶ Making good use of the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷ For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.

¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom, so that not one of those who are against you will be able to get the better of you, or to put you in the wrong.

¹³ And the Lord God said to the woman, What have you done? And the woman said, I was tricked by the deceit of the snake and I took it.

¹⁰ You are witnesses, with God, how holy and upright and free from all evil was our way of life among you who have faith;

⁹ For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit,

¹⁴ And it is no wonder; for even Satan himself is able to take the form of an angel of light.

²⁰ And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:

¹² For our glory is in this, in the knowledge which we have that our way of life in the world, and most of all in relation to you, has been holy and true in the eyes of God; not in the wisdom of the flesh, but in the grace of God.

²² Keep from every form of evil.