²¹ The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma^(A) and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground^(B) because of humans, even though^[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.^(C) And never again will I destroy^(D) all living creatures,^(E) as I have done.

¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(A) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^(B)

² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(A) and gave himself up for us^(B) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(C)

⁵ The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth,^(A) and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.^(B)

¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(A) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(B) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

⁴¹ I will accept you as fragrant incense^(A) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(B) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(C) through you in the sight of the nations.^(D)

⁶ By these waters also the world of that time^(A) was deluged and destroyed.^{(B) 7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(C) being kept for the day of judgment^(D) and destruction of the ungodly.