¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,^(A) ‘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.’^(B)

¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil,^(A) they will die for it.^{(B) 19} And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.^(C)

²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a](A) through the shedding of his blood^(B)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(C)—

2 My dear children,^(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword^(A) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,^(B)

²⁴ “But if a righteous person turns^(A) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness^(B) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.^(C)

²⁵ “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’^(D) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?^(E) Is it not your ways that are unjust? ²⁶ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. ²⁷ But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.^{(F) 28} Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.^{(G) 29} Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

³⁰ “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!^(H) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^{(I) 31} Rid^(J) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart^(K) and a new spirit. Why^(L) will you die, people of Israel?^{(M) 32} For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent^(N) and live!^(O)

²¹ “But if^(A) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees^(B) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(C)

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous person turns^(A) from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block^(B) before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(C) 21} But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.^(D)”