Many enemies surround me like bulls; they are all around me, like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.

My strength is gone, gone like water spilled on the ground. All my bones are out of joint; my heart is like melted wax.

An evil gang is around me; like a pack of dogs they close in on me; they tear at my hands and feet.

"Mortal man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They have rebelled and turned against me and are still rebels, just as their ancestors were.

Whether those rebels listen to you or not, they will know that a prophet has been among them.

"Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.

Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

Remember what I told you: 'Slaves are not greater than their master.' If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.

You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God.

and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.

And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for my sake."

Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning.

"Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves.

When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.

I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.