28
If one of you is planning to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job.
29
If you don't, you will not be able to finish the tower after laying the foundation; and all who see what happened will make fun of you.
30
"You began to build but can't finish the job!' they will say.
31
If a king goes out with ten thousand men to fight another king who comes against him with twenty thousand men, he will sit down first and decide if he is strong enough to face that other king.
32
If he isn't, he will send messengers to meet the other king to ask for terms of peace while he is still a long way off.
33
In the same way," concluded Jesus, "none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.
34
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again.
35
It is no good for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown away. Listen, then, if you have ears!"