²³ For I see that you are in ^(A)the gall^[a] of bitterness and in ^(B)the bond of iniquity.”

¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(A)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^(B)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(A)everyone who practices sin is a slave^[a] to sin.

¹⁹ They promise them ^(A)freedom, ^(B)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

⁴ For if God did not spare ^(A)angels when they sinned, but ^(B)cast them into hell^[a] and committed them to chains^[b] of gloomy darkness ^(C)to be kept until the judgment;

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

¹⁷ But ^(A)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the ^(B)standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, ^(C)having been set free from sin, ^(D)have become slaves of righteousness. ^19 (E)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For ^(F)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members ^(G)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

^20 (H)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ^21 (I)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things ^(J)of which you are now ashamed? ^(K)For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you ^(L)have been set free from sin and ^(M)have become slaves of God, ^(N)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and ^(O)its end, eternal life.