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12 “And you, human being, say to your people: ‘The goodness of a good person will not save him when he sins. The evil of the wicked person will not cause him to be punished if he turns from it. A good person will not be able to live by the good he did earlier if he sins.’ 13 I might tell the good person, “You will surely live.” But he might think he has done enough good and then do evil. Then none of the good things he did will be remembered. He will die because of the evil he has done. 14 Or, I might say to the wicked person, “You will surely die.” But he might turn from his sin and do what is right and honest. 15 He returns what somebody gave him as a promise to repay a loan. He pays back what he stole. He lives by the rules that give life. He does not sin. Then that one will surely live. He will not die. 16 He will not be punished for any of his sins. He now does what is right and fair. He will surely live.

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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) 13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.(C) 14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just(D) and right— 15 if they give back what they took in pledge(E) for a loan, return what they have stolen,(F) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.(G) 16 None of the sins(H) that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.(I)

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