A Tree and Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad[a] and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.(A) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow(B) of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.(C) 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment(D) people will have to account(E) for every careless[b] word they speak.[c] 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Footnotes

  1. 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten
  2. 12:36 Lit worthless
  3. 12:36 Lit will speak

A Tree is Known by Its Fruit(A)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit. 34 You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. 35 A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house. 36 I tell you, on Judgment Day people will give an account for every thoughtless[a] word they have uttered, 37 because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:36 Or worthless