⁵ Then ^[a]the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every ^(A)intent^[b] of the thoughts of his heart was only evil ^[c]continually.

²¹ And the Lord smelled ^(A)a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again ^(B)curse the ground for man’s sake, although the ^(C)imagination^[a] of man’s heart is evil from his youth; ^(D)nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

¹² And you have done ^(A)worse than your fathers, for behold, ^(B)each one ^[a]follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

God’s Warning Rejected

¹² And they said, ^(A)“That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one ^[a]obey the ^(B)dictates^[b] of his evil heart.”

^24 (A)Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but ^(B)followed^[a] the counsels and the ^[b]dictates of their evil hearts, and ^(C)went^[c] backward and not forward.

¹⁰ This evil people, who ^(A)refuse to hear My words, who ^(B)follow^[a] the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing.

^8 (A)Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but ^(B)everyone ^[a]followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.’ ”

¹⁴ but they have ^(A)walked according to the ^[a]dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, ^(B)which their fathers taught them,”