1 “And from the ninth mountain, which was barren and had reptiles and wild beasts that destroy humankind, those who believed are these: 2 those who have the spots are deacons who performed their office badly, stealing the livelihood of widows and orphans, and making a profit for themselves from the ministries they received to carry out. If they stay in the same evil desire, they are dead and have no hope of life; but if they turn back and carry out their ministries in purity, it is possible for them to live. 3 But those who are mildewed are those who denied and did not turn back to their Lord, but became dry and barren, because they do not cling to God’s servants but remain alone, destroying themselves.⁠a 4 For just as a vine left alone inside a fence, if neglected, is choked by weeds, and in time goes wild and is no longer useful to its owner, so too such people give themselves over to hopelessness and become useless to their Lord by becoming wild. 5 Repentance is still open to these, unless they are found to have denied in their hearts; but if someone is found to have denied in his heart, I do not know if it is possible for him to live. 6 I am not saying, in these present days, that a person can deny his Lord and then receive repentance. It is impossible for anyone who denies his Lord now to be saved. But for those who denied Him long ago, repentance may be possible. If someone is willing to repent, let him do so quickly before the tower is finished; otherwise, he will be destroyed by the women and put to death. 7 And the short ones are the treacherous and slanderers; and the wild beasts you saw on the mountain are these. For just as wild beasts with their poison kill a person, so do the words of such people poison and kill someone. 8 So these are cut short in their faith by their own conduct; but some have repented and have been saved; and the rest like this can be saved if they repent, but if they do not repent, they will meet their death at the hands of those women whose power they have.