⁵ holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!

¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.^(A)

⁸ And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.^(A)

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁰ a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,^{(A) 21} you, then, who teach others, will you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?^{(B) 22} You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by your transgression of the law? ²⁴ For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed^[a] among the gentiles because of you.”^(C)

³⁰ As for you, mortal, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses say to one another, each to a neighbor, “Come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.” ³¹ They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain.^{[a](A) 32} To them you are like a singer of love songs,^[b] one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

¹⁰ After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions,^(A)

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.^(A)

²³ Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.^(A)