so I replied by sending this message to them:“ I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”

于是我差遣人去见他们，说：“我现在办理大工，不能下去。焉能停工下去见你们呢？”

于是我派使者到他们那里，说：“我正在进行大的工程，不能下去。我怎么能离开，下去见你们，而让工程停顿呢？”

于是我派使者到他们那里，说：“我正在进行大的工程，不能下去。我怎么能离开，下去见你们，而让工程停顿呢？”

我派人回复他们说：“我正在做一件大工程，不能下去见你们。我怎能停止工作下去见你们呢？”

于是我差派使者去见他们说：“我正在进行大工程，不能去。我怎能放下这工程，去见你们，使这工程停顿呢？”

於是我差遣人去見他們，說：「我現在辦理大工，不能下去。焉能停工下去見你們呢？」

於是我派使者到他們那裏，說：「我正在進行大的工程，不能下去。我怎麼能離開，下去見你們，而讓工程停頓呢？」

於是我派使者到他們那裏，說：「我正在進行大的工程，不能下去。我怎麼能離開，下去見你們，而讓工程停頓呢？」

我派人回覆他們說：「我正在做一件大工程，不能下去見你們。我怎能停止工作下去見你們呢？」

於是我差派使者去見他們說：“我正在進行大工程，不能去。我怎能放下這工程，去見你們，使這工程停頓呢？”

於是我差遣人去見他們說：『我在作的是一件大的工程，我不能下去；我哪裏能把工作放開，下去見你們，以致工程停息呢？』

我遣使詣之曰、我經營鉅工、弗能往、奚可止工而詣爾乎、

我遣使對曰、我經營孔急、弗能趨造、恐妨工作。

我遣使對曰、我今經營大工、不能往、往原文作下下同焉可止息工作、往見爾乎、

so I sent messengers to them with this reply:“ I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

So I sent messengers to them with my answer. I replied,“ I’m working on a huge project. So I can’t get away. Why should the work stop while I leave it? Why should I go down and talk with you?”

And I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

So I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

So I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

So I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

So I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I[ am] doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

So I sent messengers to them saying,“ I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?”

I sent messengers to them, saying,“ I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

“ Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.

They would say,‘ There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’