¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.^(A) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.^(B)

¹³ The Lord says:

⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

2 Therefore, rid yourselves^(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander^(B) of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(C) so that by it you may grow up^(D) in your salvation,

²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(A) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(B) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^(C)

¹⁶ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(A) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(B) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{(C) 5} who have tasted the goodness^(D) of the word of God^(E) and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[a] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(F) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(G) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ ³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(B) for unjust gain.^{(C) 32} Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs^(D) with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.^(E)

³³ “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.^(F)”