²⁶ If anyone ^[a]among you thinks he is religious, and ^(A)does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ^27 (B)Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: ^(C)to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, ^(D)and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

²⁰ Now ^(A)to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly ^(B)above all that we ask or think, ^(C)according to the power that works in us,

¹⁸ And ^(A)do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another ^(B)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making ^(C)melody in your heart to the Lord, ^20 (D)giving thanks always for all things to God the Father ^(E)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

³ as His ^(A)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ^(B)who called us by glory and virtue, ^4 (C)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be ^(D)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ^[a]corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Unpardonable Sin^(A)

³¹ “Therefore I say to you, ^(B)every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, ^(C)but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. ³² Anyone who ^(D)speaks a word against the Son of Man, ^(E)it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit^(F)

³³ “Either make the tree good and ^(G)its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (H)Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? ^(I)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure ^[b]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”