Tell them,‘ When sinful people die, it does not give me any joy. But when they turn away from their sins and live, that makes me very happy. And that is just as sure as I am alive,’ announces the Lord and King.‘ So turn away from your sins! Change your evil ways! Why should you die, people of Israel?’

你对他们说，主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，惟喜悦恶人转离所行的道而活。以色列家啊，你们转回，转回吧！离开恶道，何必死亡呢？

你要对他们说，主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，惟喜悦恶人转离他所行的道而存活。以色列家啊，你们回转，回转离开恶道吧！何必死亡呢？

你要对他们说，主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，惟喜悦恶人转离他所行的道而存活。以色列家啊，你们回转，回转离开恶道吧！何必死亡呢？

你要告诉他们，主耶和华说，“我凭我的永恒起誓，我绝不喜欢恶人死亡，我更愿意恶人改邪归正，得以存活。以色列人啊，回头吧！回头吧！改邪归正吧！何必自取灭亡呢？”’

你要对他们说：‘主耶和华这样宣告：我指着我的永生起誓，我绝不喜悦恶人死亡，却喜悦恶人离开他所行的，得以存活。以色列家啊，回转吧！离开你们所行的，何必死亡呢？’

你對他們說，主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，我斷不喜悅惡人死亡，惟喜悅惡人轉離所行的道而活。以色列家啊，你們轉回，轉回吧！離開惡道，何必死亡呢？

你要對他們說，主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，我斷不喜悅惡人死亡，惟喜悅惡人轉離他所行的道而存活。以色列家啊，你們回轉，回轉離開惡道吧！何必死亡呢？

你要對他們說，主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，我斷不喜悅惡人死亡，惟喜悅惡人轉離他所行的道而存活。以色列家啊，你們回轉，回轉離開惡道吧！何必死亡呢？

你要告訴他們，主耶和華說，「我憑我的永恆起誓，我絕不喜歡惡人死亡，我更願意惡人改邪歸正，得以存活。以色列人啊，回頭吧！回頭吧！改邪歸正吧！何必自取滅亡呢？」』

你要對他們說：‘主耶和華這樣宣告：我指著我的永生起誓，我絕不喜悅惡人死亡，卻喜悅惡人離開他所行的，得以存活。以色列家啊，回轉吧！離開你們所行的，何必死亡呢？’

你要對他們說：主永恆主發神諭說：我指着永活的我來起誓：我絕不喜悅惡人死亡；我乃是喜歡惡人回轉離開他的行徑以得活着。回轉吧！回轉！離開你們的壞行徑哦！何必死亡呢、以色列家啊？

爾告之曰、主耶和華云、我指己生而誓、惡人死亡、我所不悅、惟悅惡人轉離其道、而得生存、以色列家乎、爾其回轉、回轉、離爾惡途、何為自取死亡、

然主耶和華曰、我指己而誓、我不以人作惡致死為悅、惟以人悛惡得生為悅、故爾以色列家當改厥惡、何必蹈於死亡、

爾告之曰、主天主曰、我指己永生而誓、我不以惡人死亡為悅、惟以惡人悛改其惡行、而得生存為悅、以色列族歟、悛改、悛改、離爾惡行、何為自取死亡、○

Say to them,‘ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

Tell them,‘ As I live— this is the declaration of the Lord GOD— I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’

Say to them,‘ As I live!’ declares the Lord God,‘ I take no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then should you die, house of Israel?’

Say to them:‘ As I live,’ says the Lord GOD,‘ I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Tell them: As I live”— the declaration of the Lord God—“ I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?

Say unto them,[ As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Say to them,‘ As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Tell them,‘“ As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh,“ I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, house of Israel?”’

When sinful people die, it does not give me any joy,” announces the Lord and King.“ But when they turn away from their sins and live, that makes me very happy.

He wants all people to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth.

The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. Instead, he is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.

Turn to the Lord before it’s too late. Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you.Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive.

“ So I will judge you Israelites. I will judge each of you in keeping with what you have done,” announces the Lord and King.“ Turn away from your sins! Turn away from all the evil things you have done. Then sin will not bring you down.Get rid of all the evil things you have done. Let me give you a new heart and a new spirit. Then you will be faithful to me. Why should you die, people of Israel?When anyone dies, it does not give me any joy,” announces the Lord and King.“ So turn away from your sins. Then you will live!

So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new.

Israel, return to the Lord your God. Your sins have destroyed you!

“ You have not been faithful,” says the Lord.“ Return to me. I will heal you. Then you will not turn away from me anymore.”“ Yes,” the people say.“ We will come to you. You are the Lord our God.

So he got up and went to his father.“ While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.“ The son said to him,‘ Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’“ But the father said to his servants,‘ Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ So they began to celebrate.“ The older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on.‘ Your brother has come home,’ the servant replied.‘ Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.’“ The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him.But he answered his father,‘ Look! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.But this son of yours wasted your money with some prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!’“‘ My son,’ the father said,‘ you are always with me. Everything I have is yours.But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ ”

He doesn’t want to bring pain or suffering to anyone.

The Lord continues,“ People of Ephraim, how can I give you up? Israel, how can I hand you over to your enemies? Can I destroy you as I did the town of Admah? Can I treat you like Zeboyim? My heart is stirred inside me. It is filled with pity for you.

“ So speak to the people of Israel. Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Turn away from your sins! Also turn away from your gods. Give up all the evil things you have done. I hate them.

The curses that are written in the Law of Moses have fallen on us. We have received nothing but trouble. You are the Lord our God. But we haven’t asked for your favor. We haven’t turned away from our sins. We’ve refused to pay attention to the laws you gave us.

You have made my temple‘ unclean.’ You have set up statues of all your evil gods. You have done other things I hate. So I will cut you off just like Ezekiel cut off his hair. I will not spare you or feel sorry for you. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.

But those who don’t find me harm only themselves. Everyone who hates me loves death.”

All of us must die. We are like water spilled on the ground. It can’t be put back into the jar. But that is not what God desires. Instead, he finds a way to bring back anyone who was driven away from him.

You can be sure that I live. You can be just as sure that my glory fills the whole earth.

“ I have heard the groans of Ephraim’s people. They say,‘ You corrected us like a calf you were training. And we have been trained. Bring us back to you, and we will come back. You are the Lord our God.After we wandered away from you, we turned away from our sins. After we learned our lesson, we beat our chests in sorrow. We were full of shame. What we did when we were young brought dishonor on us.’Aren’t the people of Ephraim my dear children? Aren’t they the children I take delight in? I often speak against them. But I still remember them. So my heart longs for them. I love them with a tender love,” announces the Lord.

Pay attention to my warning! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you. I will make known to you my teachings.

First I preached to people in Damascus. Then I preached in Jerusalem and in all Judea. And then I preached to the Gentiles. I told them to turn away from their sins to God. The way they live must show that they have turned away from their sins.

Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. You can be sure that I live,” announces the Lord.“ And you can be just as sure that your people will be like decorations you will wear. Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.

“ I am the King. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. Someone will come who is like Mount Tabor among the mountains. He is like Mount Carmel by the Mediterranean Sea. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the King.

And suppose these three men were in that country. Then they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved. But the land would become a dry and empty desert. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.“ Or suppose I send swords to kill the people in that country. And I say,‘ Let swords sweep all through the land.’ And I kill its people and their animals.And suppose these three men were in that country. Then they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.

So tell them,‘ Here is what I am announcing. I am the Lord. You can be sure that I live. And here is what you can be just as sure of. I will do to you the very thing that I heard you say.

“ King Jehoiachin, you are the son of Jehoiakim,” announces the Lord.“ Suppose you were a ring on my right hand. And suppose the ring even had my royal mark on it. Then I would still pull you off my finger. And that is just as sure as I am alive.

It is written,“‘ You can be sure that I live,’ says the Lord.‘ And you can be just as sure that everyone will kneel down in front of me. Every tongue will have to tell the truth about God.’ ”( Isaiah 45:23)

Your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.

So Moab will become like Sodom,” announces the Lord who rules over all.“ Ammon will be like Gomorrah. Weeds and salt pits will cover those countries. They will be dry and empty deserts forever. Those who are still left alive among my people will take all their valuable things. So they will receive those lands as their own. And that is just as sure as I am alive.” The Lord is the God of Israel.