Luke 14:28-29

14:28 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down ¹  first and compute the cost ²  to see if he has enough money to complete it? 14:29 Otherwise, ³  when he has laid ⁴  a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, ⁵  all who see it ⁶  will begin to make fun of ⁷  him.

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¹ tn The participle καθίσας (kaqisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

² tn The first illustration involves checking to see if enough funds exist to build a watchtower. Both ψηφίζω (yhfizw, “compute”) and δαπάνη (dapanh, “cost”) are economic terms.

³ tn Grk “to complete it, lest.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation and ἵνα μήποτε ({ina mhpote, “lest”) has been translated as “Otherwise.”

⁴ tn The participle θέντος (qentos) has been taken temporally.

⁵ tn The words “the tower” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

⁶ tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

⁷ tn Or “mock,” “ridicule.” The person who did not plan ahead becomes an object of joking and ridicule.