¹³ As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you.

²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(A)by their fruits.

¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(A)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(B)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

^33 (A)“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, ^(B)for the tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (C)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, ^(D)when you are evil? ^(E)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

¹⁹ For out of the heart come ^(A)evil thoughts, ^(B)murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, ^(C)slander.