⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(A) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(B)

¹⁰ “What should we do then?”^(C) the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”^(D)

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized.^(E) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(F) he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely^(G)—be content with your pay.”

²⁰ First to those in Damascus,^(A) then to those in Jerusalem^(B) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,^(C) I preached that they should repent^(D) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.^(E)

³⁰ “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!^(A) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^{(B) 31} Rid^(C) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart^(D) and a new spirit. Why^(E) will you die, people of Israel?^{(F) 32} For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent^(G) and live!^(H)

⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble,^(A) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(B) where the fire never goes out.^(C)

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(A) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^(B)

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(A) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(B) 48} where

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble,^(A) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”^(A) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”^(B)

¹⁴ Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning^(A) or something worse may happen to you.”