then the priest must order the people to tear out the stones with the mildew on them and throw them away. They must put those stones at a special unclean [218] place outside the city.
If any person secretly says bad things\par about his neighbor,\par I will stop that person.\par I will not allow people to be proud\par and think they are better than other people.\par
If a person thinks he is better than other people, force him to leave. When that person leaves, trouble will leave with him. Then arguments and bragging will end.
Then the priest must have all the house scraped inside. The people must throw away the plaster [219] that they scrape off. They must put that plaster at a special unclean place outside the city.
If that person refuses to listen to them, then tell the church (group of believers). If that person refuses to listen to the church, then treat him like he is a person that does not believe in God. Treat him like he is a tax collector. {\cf2\super [254]}
He cuts off every branch {\cf2\super [217]} of mine that does not make fruit. {\cf2\super [218]} And he trims and cleans every branch that makes fruit, so that it will make even more fruit.
I know what you do. You work hard, and you never quit. I know that you don’t accept evil people. You have tested those people who say that they are apostles {\cf2\super [12]} but are really not. You found that they are liars.
But I have this against you: You let that woman named Jezebel do what she wants. She says that she is a prophet. {\cf2\super [22]} But she is leading my people away with her teaching. Jezebel leads my people to do sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols. {\cf2\super [23]}
Outside the city are the dogs (bad people), people who do evil magic, people who sin sexually, people who murder, people who worship idols, {\cf2\super [175]} and people who love lies and tell lies.