However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

义人若转离义行而作罪孽，照着恶人所行一切可憎的事而行，他岂能存活吗？他所行的一切义都不被记念；他必因所犯的罪、所行的恶死亡。

至于义人，他若转离义行而作恶，照着恶人所做一切可憎的事去做，岂能存活呢？他所行的一切义都不被记念；反而因所行的恶、所犯的罪死亡。

至于义人，他若转离义行而作恶，照着恶人所做一切可憎的事去做，岂能存活呢？他所行的一切义都不被记念；反而因所行的恶、所犯的罪死亡。

义人若弃善行恶，与恶人同流合污，这人岂能活着？他从前的义行不会被记念，他必因自己的背信和罪恶而灭亡。

“义人若转离他的义去行恶，照着恶人所行一切可憎的事而行，他能存活吗？他所行的一切义都不会被记念；他必因他所行不忠的事和他所犯的罪而灭亡。

義人若轉離義行而作罪孽，照着惡人所行一切可憎的事而行，他豈能存活嗎？他所行的一切義都不被記念；他必因所犯的罪、所行的惡死亡。

至於義人，他若轉離義行而作惡，照着惡人所做一切可憎的事去做，豈能存活呢？他所行的一切義都不被記念；反而因所行的惡、所犯的罪死亡。

至於義人，他若轉離義行而作惡，照着惡人所做一切可憎的事去做，豈能存活呢？他所行的一切義都不被記念；反而因所行的惡、所犯的罪死亡。

義人若棄善行惡，與惡人同流合污，這人豈能活著？他從前的義行不會被記念，他必因自己的背信和罪惡而滅亡。

“義人若轉離他的義去行惡，照著惡人所行一切可憎的事而行，他能存活嗎？他所行的一切義都不會被記念；他必因他所行不忠的事和他所犯的罪而滅亡。

義人若轉離他的義行，而行不公道的事，照惡人所行一切可厭惡之事而行，他哪能活着呢？他所行的一切義都不被記住；他必因他所陰謀的不忠實和所犯的罪而死於其中。

如義人轉離其義而行惡、效惡人行可惡之事、豈得生存乎、其所行之義、不復見憶、必死於其所蹈之愆、所犯之罪、

如善人去善就惡、行諸不義、我所痛疾者、豈得保生乎、其所行之善、不復追憶、既犯罪作惡、必使之亡。

如善人離善作惡、循惡人所行諸可憎之事而行、豈得生存乎、其所行之諸善、不復追憶、必因所作之慝、所犯之罪死亡、

“ But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.

“ Suppose a godly person stops doing what is right. And they sin. They do the same evil things a sinful person does. They do things I hate. Then they will not live. I will not remember any of the right things they have done. They have not been faithful to me. They have also committed many other sins. So they are guilty. They will die.

But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

“ But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

“ But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity,[ and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked[ man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

“ But if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing according to all the abominable practices the wicked carry out, will he live? All his righteous acts will not be remembered; because of the unfaithful acts he has done and the sin he has committed, he will die.

“ But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.

For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.

The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.

Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.

When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.

But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said,“ This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty— by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were,“ May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

“ Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins.

“ I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.

For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

“ But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.And that son does all the evil things his father would never do— he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.They prove the truth of this proverb:“ A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says,“ A washed pig returns to the mud.”

All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!

When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

On judgment day many will say to me,‘ Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’But I will reply,‘ I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.For we know the one who said,“ I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said,“ The Lord will judge his own people.”It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

“ When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.Then it says,‘ I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened— those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked,“ Are you also going to leave?”Simon Peter replied,“ Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”Then Jesus said,“ I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”

“ Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me,

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil.

“ If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

But the father will die for his many sins— for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.

Later Jesus said to them again,“ I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”

The wicked are crushed by disaster, but the godly have a refuge when they die.