⁹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, ^(A)“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for ^(B)we are members of one another.

⁸ Therefore bear fruits ^(A)worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore ^(B)every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰ So the people asked him, saying, ^(C)“What shall we do then?”

¹¹ He answered and said to them, ^(D)“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, ^(E)let him do likewise.”

¹² Then ^(F)tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

¹³ And he said to them, ^(G)“Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

¹⁴ Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

So he said to them, “Do not ^[a]intimidate anyone ^(H)or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

¹⁹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: