⁸ Bear fruits ^(A)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ^(B)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from ^(C)these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

²⁷ Again, ^(A)when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. ²⁸ Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²⁹ Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

³⁰ “Therefore ^(B)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. ^(C)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, ^(D)lest iniquity be your ruin.^{[a] 31 (E)}Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and ^(F)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! ^(G)Why will you die, O house of Israel?

²⁰ but declared first ^(A)to those in Damascus, ^(B)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also ^(C)to the Gentiles, that they should ^(D)repent and ^(E)turn to God, performing deeds ^(F)in keeping with their repentance.

²² But ^(A)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(B)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(C)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (D)gentleness, ^(E)self-control; ^(F)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(G)have crucified the flesh with its ^(H)passions and desires.

⁷ For ^(A)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 ^(B)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^(C)and its end is to be burned.

⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God ^(A)will be taken away from you and given to a people ^(B)producing its fruits.

¹¹ filled ^(A)with the fruit of righteousness that comes ^(B)through Jesus Christ, ^(C)to the glory and praise of God.

¹⁰ For ^(A)godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas ^(B)worldly grief produces death. ¹¹ For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, ^(C)what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.