²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^(A)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! ^(A)Sin no more, ^(B)that nothing worse may happen to you.”

⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and ^(A)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this ^(B)evil generation.”

²⁰ For if, ^(A)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(B)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(C)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For ^(D)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(E)the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The ^(F)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

¹² These are hidden reefs^{[a] (A)}at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ^(B)shepherds feeding themselves; ^(C)waterless clouds, ^(D)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, ^(E)uprooted; ^13 (F)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of ^(G)their own shame; ^(H)wandering stars, ^(I)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and ^(A)God^[a] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. ^(B)There is sin that leads to death; ^(C)I do not say that one should pray for that.

²⁶ For ^(A)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(B)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(C)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (D)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(E)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (F)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(G)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(H)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(I)the blood of the covenant ^(J)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(K)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(L)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(M)“The Lord will judge his people.” ^31 (N)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

⁴ 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, ⁵ and ^(D)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ But ^(H)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^(I)and its end is to be burned.