²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

¹⁹ When anyone hears the word ^(A)of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately ^(B)receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when ^(C)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately ^(D)he stumbles. ²² Now ^(E)he who received seed ^(F)among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

The Just Live by Faith

²⁶ For ^(A)if we sin willfully ^(B)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there ^(C)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(D)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three ^(E)witnesses. ^29 (F)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, ^(G)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, ^(H)and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, ^(I)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” ^[a]says the Lord. And again, ^(J)“The Lord will judge His people.” ^31 (K)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day ^(A)will declare it, because ^(B)it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

²⁰ For if, after they ^(A)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are ^(B)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For ^(C)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ^(D)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”