¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.^(A)

²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed,^(A) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(A) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(B) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(C)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(A) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(B) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(C)

² to slander no one,^(A) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

³ At one time^(B) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness^(C) and love of God our Savior^(D) appeared,^{(E) 5} he saved us,^(F) not because of righteous things we had done,^(G) but because of his mercy.^(H) He saved us through the washing^(I) of rebirth and renewal^(J) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us^(K) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

¹⁰ As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(G) it says to those who are under the law,^(H) so that every mouth may be silenced^(I) and the whole world held accountable to God.^(J)

²² Repent^(A) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.