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12 “Human, say to your people: ‘The goodness of those who do right will not save them when they sin. The evil of wicked people will not cause them to be punished if they stop doing it. If good people sin, they will not be able to live by the good they did earlier.’ 13 If I tell good people, ‘You will surely live,’ they might think they have done enough good and then do evil. Then none of the good things they did will be remembered. They will die because of the evil they have done. 14 Or, if I say to the wicked people, ‘You will surely die,’ they may stop sinning and do what is right and honest. 15 For example, they may return what somebody gave them as a promise to repay a loan, or pay back what they stole. If they live by the rules that give life and do not sin, then they will surely live, and they will not die. 16 They will not be punished for any of their sins. They now do what is right and fair, so they 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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