For it is impossible, in the case of those (A)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted (B)the heavenly gift, and (C)have shared in the Holy Spirit, and (D)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and (E)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since (F)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For (G)land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But (H)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, (I)and its end is to be burned.

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For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

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