²² Be merciful to those who doubt;

¹⁶ If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.^(A) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.^(B) I am not saying that you should pray about that.^{(C) 17} All wrongdoing is sin,^(D) and there is sin that does not lead to death.^(E)

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God^(F) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one^(G) cannot harm them.^(H)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(A) and someone should bring that person back,^{(B) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(C) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(D)

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^(A) should restore^(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

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. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(H) In the end it will be burned.

¹⁷ “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.^(A)

⁴ For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about^[a] long ago have secretly slipped in among you.^(A) They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.^(B)

⁵ Though you already know all this,^(C) I want to remind you^(D) that the Lord^[b] at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.^{(E) 6} And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.^{(F) 7} In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah^(G) and the surrounding towns^(H) gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.^(I)

⁸ In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.^{(J) 9} But even the archangel^(K) Michael,^(L) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,^(M) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”^{[c](N) 10} Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.^(O)

¹¹ Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;^(P) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;^(Q) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.^(R)

¹² These people are blemishes at your love feasts,^(S) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.^(T) They are clouds without rain,^(U) blown along by the wind;^(V) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted^(W)—twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea,^(X) foaming up their shame;^(Y) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.^(Z)

²⁰ how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!