¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[a](A) who saved^(B) them out of the hands of these raiders. ¹⁷ Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted^(C) themselves to other gods^(D) and worshiped them.^(E) They quickly turned^(F) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.^{(G) 18} Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(H) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(I) because of their groaning^(J) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(K) them. ¹⁹ But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt^(L) than those of their ancestors,^(M) following other gods and serving and worshiping them.^(N) They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn^(O) ways.

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(A) when we were still powerless,^(B) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(C) 7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(D)