³⁰ Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.

¹⁶ They profess to ^(A)know God, but ^(B)in works they deny Him, being ^[a]abominable, disobedient, ^(C)and disqualified for every good work.

³¹ So ^(A)they come to you as people do, they ^(B)sit before you as My people, and they ^(C)hear your words, but they do not do them; ^(D)for with their mouth they show much love, but ^(E)their hearts pursue their own gain.

³ Therefore whatever they tell you ^[a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for ^(A)they say, and do not do.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

^17 [a]Indeed ^(A)you are called a Jew, and ^(B)rest^[b] on the law, ^(C)and make your boast in God, ¹⁸ and ^(D)know His will, and ^(E)approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, ¹⁹ and ^(F)are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, ^(G)having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. ^21 (H)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? ²² You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, ^(I)do you rob temples? ²³ You who ^(J)make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? ²⁴ For ^(K)“the name of God is ^(L)blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

^25 (M)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.