¹¹ Say to them, ^(A)As I live, declares the Lord God, ^(B)I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; ^(C)turn back, turn back from your evil ways, ^(D)for why will you die, O house of Israel?

⁴ who desires ^(A)all people to be saved and ^(B)to come to ^(C)the knowledge of the truth.

^23 (A)Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

^9 (A)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise ^(B)as some count slowness, but ^(C)is patient toward you,^{[a] (D)}not wishing that any should perish, but ^(E)that all should reach repentance.

^19 (A)Repent therefore, and ^(B)turn back, that ^(C)your sins may be blotted out,

³⁰ “Therefore ^(A)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. ^(B)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, ^(C)lest iniquity be your ruin.^{[a] 31 (D)}Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and ^(E)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! ^(F)Why will you die, O house of Israel? ^32 (G)For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; ^(H)so turn, and live.”

²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ^(A)ran and ^(B)embraced him and ^(C)kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ^(D)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^{[a] 22} But the father said to his servants,^[b] ‘Bring quickly ^(E)the best robe, and put it on him, and put ^(F)a ring on his hand, and ^(G)shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring ^(H)the fattened calf and kill it, and ^(I)let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son ^(J)was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, ²⁹ but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might ^(K)celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, ^(L)who has devoured ^(M)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹ And he said to him, ‘Son, ^(N)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² It was fitting ^(O)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother ^(P)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”