(Jesus continues speaking to the crowds.)

## For which of you ##

This is the beginning of a rhetorical question. Jesus used it to get people to think about what they would do in a particular situation. It can also be translated as a statement: If one of you wanted to build a tower, you would certainly first sit down and count the cost." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

## tower ##

This may have been a watchtower in a vineyard. Some languages might translate it as "a tall building" or "a high lookout platform."

## Otherwise ##

"If he does not first count the cost"

## when he has laid the foundation ##

"when he has built the base." It can also be translated as "when he started building."