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.”

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(A) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(B) to Christ.

¹¹ then say to them, ‘It is because your ancestors forsook me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and followed other gods and served and worshiped^(A) them. They forsook me and did not keep my law.^{(B) 12} But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors.^(C) See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts^(D) instead of obeying me.

²¹ The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma^(A) and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground^(B) because of humans, even though^[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.^(C) And never again will I destroy^(D) all living creatures,^(E) as I have done.

²⁴ But they did not listen^(A) or pay attention;^(B) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(C) They went backward^(D) and not forward.