⁵ And when he has found it, ^(A)he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

³ among whom we all once lived in ^(A)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and ^(B)were by nature ^(C)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[b] 4} But^[c] God, being ^(D)rich in mercy, ^(E)because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even ^(F)when we were dead in our trespasses, ^(G)made us alive together with Christ—^(H)by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and ^(I)seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

God's Steadfast Love and Compassion

^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?

⁵ who by God's power are being guarded ^(A)through faith for a salvation ^(B)ready to be revealed in the last time.

² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ^(A)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising ^(B)the shame, and ^(C)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ⁴ But when ^(B)the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, ^(C)not because of works done by us in righteousness, but ^(D)according to his own mercy, by ^(E)the washing of regeneration and ^(F)renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he ^(G)poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that ^(H)being justified by his grace we might become ^(I)heirs ^(J)according to the hope of eternal life.