^2 (A)Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear ^(B)more fruit.

¹⁰ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. ^(A)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, ^(A)that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no ^[a]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields ^(B)the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹³ But He answered and said, ^(A)“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

^19 (A)As many as I love, I rebuke and ^(B)chasten.^[a] Therefore be ^[b]zealous and repent.

^8 (A)By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; ^(B)so you will be My disciples.

⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it ^[a]use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ^9 [b]And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can ^(A)cut it down.’ ”

Blessing and Admonition

²³ Now may ^(A)the God of peace Himself ^(B)sanctify^[a] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body ^(C)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is ^(D)faithful, who also will ^(E)do it.

^12 (A)For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.