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10 Message of Conversion.[a] Son of man, say to the house of Israel: You continually complain, “Our crimes and our sins weigh heavily upon us, and we are wasting away because of them. How are we to go on living?” 11 Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather in their decision to turn from their evil ways and live. Repent and turn from your evil ways. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

12 As for you, son of man, say to your countrymen: The virtue of a righteous man will not save him when he transgresses. Nor will the evil deeds of a wicked man cause his downfall once he renounces his wickedness, any more than the righteous will be able to live by their righteousness when they sin.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:10 We find here, in fuller form and as an invitation to a fullness of life, the great idea of personal retribution that has already been stated in Ezek 18:1-32 and will be repeated in chapter 36.

10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away(A) because of[a] them. How then can we live?(B)”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.(C) Turn!(D) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’(E)

12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,(F) ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:10 Or away in