Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(A) and to be holy;(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(C) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(D) and that no bitter root(E) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(F) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(G) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(H) he could not change what he had done.

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Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness(A)—without it no one will see the Lord.(B) 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.(C) 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral[a] or irreverent(D) person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.(E) 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:16 Or sexually immoral