For this reason all hands hang limp, ¹  every human heart loses its courage. ² 

“Salt ¹  is good, but if salt loses its flavor, ²  how can its flavor be restored?

א (Alef) ¹ Alas! ²  Gold has lost its luster; ³  pure gold loses value. ⁴  Jewels ⁵  are scattered on every street corner. ⁶ 

Whoever finds his life ¹  will lose it, ²  and whoever loses his life because of me ³  will find it.

For what does it benefit a person ¹  if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

Whoever tries to keep ¹  his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life ²  will preserve it.

For whoever wants to save his life ¹  will lose it, ²  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For whoever wants to save his life ¹  will lose it, ²  but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

Salt ¹  is good, but if it loses its saltiness, ²  how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, ¹  but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

A blacksmith works with his tool ¹  and forges metal over the coals. He forms it ²  with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; ³  he drinks no water and gets tired.

“You are the salt ¹  of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, ²  how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

“Which one ¹  of you, if he has a hundred ²  sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture ³  and go look for ⁴  the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ 

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins ¹  and loses ²  one of them, ³  does not light a lamp, sweep ⁴  the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?