28. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?
29. Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him
30. and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
31. Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
32. But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
33. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
34. “Salt is good, but if salt itself loses its taste, with what can its flavor be restored?
35. It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”