⁴ For it is ^(A)impossible, in the case of those who have once been ^(B)enlightened and have tasted of ^(C)the heavenly gift and have been made ^(D)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(E)have tasted the good ^(F)word of God and the powers of ^(G)the age to come, ⁶ and then have ^[a]fallen away, to ^(H)restore them again to repentance, ^[b](I)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[c]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those ^(J)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and ^[d](K)close to being cursed, and ^[e]it ends up being burned.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(A)sinning willfully after receiving ^(B)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(C)judgment and ^(D)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (E)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (F)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve ^(G)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(H)the blood of the covenant ^(I)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(J)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(K)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(L)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(M)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(N)living God.

^14 (A)Pursue peace with all people, and the ^(B)holiness without which no one will ^(C)see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(D)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(E)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become ^(F)defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no ^(G)sexually immoral or ^(H)godless person like Esau, ^(I)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even afterward, ^(J)when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.