⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(A)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(B) by them all over again?^(C)

³ But whoever loves God is known by God.^[a](A)

³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^[a]

³ For what the law was powerless^(A) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[a](B) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(C) to be a sin offering.^[b](D) And so he condemned sin in the flesh,

²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come^(A) and has given us understanding,^(B) so that we may know him who is true.^(C) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.^(D)

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(A) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(B) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(C) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(D) him, he will reject^(E) you forever.

²⁰ If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(A) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(B) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^(C)

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless^(A)

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(C) must turn away from wickedness.”