Saturday, November 27, 2010

I'd rather that the wicked repent and live

[Ezekiel 18:21-32]

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not equal." Hear now, inhabitants of the earth; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in them; for his iniquity that he has done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Yet says the people of the land, "The way of the Lord is not equal." People of the land, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, people of the land, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, people of the land? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and you live.
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