"Fiveof them were foolish,and fivewere prudent.
Onebaskethad verygoodfigs,like first-ripefigs,and the otherbaskethad verybadfigswhichcould not be eatendueto rottenness.
"Behold,I sendyou out as sheepin the midstof wolves;sobe shrewdas serpentsand innocentas doves.
"Whothenis the faithfuland sensibleslavewhomhis masterput in chargeof his householdto givethem their foodat the proper time?
"For when the foolishtooktheir lamps,they tooknooilwith them,
but the prudenttookoilin flasksalong with their lamps.
"But the prudentanswered,'No,there will not be enoughfor us and you [too]; goinsteadto the dealersand buy[some] for yourselves.'
They wentout from us, but they were not [really] of us; for ifthey had beenof us, they would have remainedwith us; but [they went out], sothat it would be shownthat they allare not of us.
NowI desireto remindyou, though you knowall thingsonce for all,that the Lord,after savinga peopleout of the landof Egypt,subsequentlydestroyedthosewho did not believe.
