The Soul Who Sins Shall Die
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The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
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"What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
'The a fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children's teeth are set on edge'?
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"As I live," says the Lord GOD, "you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
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"Behold, all souls are b Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
c The soul who sins shall die.
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But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
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d If he has not eaten on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor e defiled his neighbor's wife,
Nor approached f a woman during her impurity;
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If he has not g oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his h pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has i given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with j clothing;
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If he has not exacted k usury
Nor taken any increase,
But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
And l executed true judgment between man and man;
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If he has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully -
He is just;
He shall surely m live!"
Says the Lord GOD.
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"If he begets a son who is a robber
Or n a shedder of blood,
Who does any of these things
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And does none of those duties,
But has eaten on the mountains
Or defiled his neighbor's wife;
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If he has oppressed the poor and needy,
Robbed by violence,
Not restored the pledge,
Lifted his eyes to the idols,
Or o committed abomination;
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If he has exacted usury
Or taken increase -
Shall he then live?
He shall not live!
If he has done any of these abominations,
He shall surely die;
p His blood shall be upon him.
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" If, however, he begets a son
Who sees all the sins which his father has done,
And considers but does not do likewise;
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q Who has not eaten on the mountains,
Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor defiled his neighbor's wife;
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Has not oppressed anyone,
Nor withheld a pledge,
Nor robbed by violence,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
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Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor
And not received usury or increase,
But has executed My judgments
And walked in My statutes -
He shall not die for the iniquity of his father;
He shall surely live!
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" As for his father,
Because he cruelly oppressed,
Robbed his brother by violence,
And did what is not good among his people,
Behold, r he shall die for his iniquity.
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"Yet you say, 'Why s should the son not bear the guilt of the father?' Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.
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t "The soul who sins shall die. u The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. v The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, w and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
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"But x if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
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y "None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall z live.
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a "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
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"But b 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? c 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.
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"Yet you say, d 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
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e "When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.
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"Again, f when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.
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"Because he g considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
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h "Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
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i "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. j "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
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k "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a l new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
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"For m I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and n live!"
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Cross References
Jeremiah 31:29
"In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.'
Lamentations 5:7
Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:22
Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?
Numbers 27:16
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.
Isaiah 42:5
Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:
Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 22:9
In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains; in your midst they commit lewdness.
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Cross References
Leviticus 18:20
Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her.
Leviticus 20:10
The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.
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Cross References
Leviticus 18:19
Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.
Leviticus 20:18
If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from their people.
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Cross References
Exodus 22:21
You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:15
You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
Leviticus 25:14
And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress one another.
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Cross References
Exodus 22:26
If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.
Deuteronomy 24:12
And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother.
Deuteronomy 15:11
"For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.'
Ezekiel 18:16
Has not oppressed anyone, Nor withheld a pledge, Nor robbed by violence, But has given his bread to the hungry And covered the naked with clothing.
Matthew 25:35 - 40
For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.
Luke 3:11
He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.
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Cross References
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
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Cross References
Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.
Leviticus 25:36
Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.
Deuteronomy 23:19
You shall not charge interest to your brother - interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.
Nehemiah 5:7
After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, "Each of you is exacting usury from his brother." So I called a great assembly against them.
Psalms 15:5
He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:16
Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 20:11
"And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them.'
Amos 5:4
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live.
Habakkuk 2:4
Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.
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Cross References
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
Exodus 21:12
He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:31
Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
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Cross References
2 Kings 21:11
Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations ( he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols).
Ezekiel 8:6
Furthermore He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.
Ezekiel 8:17
And He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.
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Cross References
Leviticus 20:9
For everyone who curses his father or his mothe...
Leviticus 20:11 - 13
The man who lies with his father's wife has unc...
Leviticus 20:16
If a woman approaches any animal and mates with...
Leviticus 20:27
'A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has f...
Ezekiel 3:18
When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die...
Acts 18:6
But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he sh...
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:6
If he has not eaten on the mountains, Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, Nor defiled his neighbor's wife, Nor approached a woman during her impurity.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 3:18
When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
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Cross References
Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
Deuteronomy 5:9
You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
2 Kings 23:26
Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.
2 Kings 24:3
Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done.
2 Kings 24:4
And also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon.
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Cross References
2 Kings 14:6
But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
2 Kings 22:18 - 20
But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: " Concerning the words which you have heard -
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 24:16
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
2 Kings 14:6
But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
2 Chronicles 25:4
However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.
Jeremiah 31:29
"In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.'
Jeremiah 31:30
But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
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Cross References
1 Kings 8:32
Then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
Isaiah 3:10
Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
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Cross References
Romans 2:6 - 9
Who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:27
Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.
Ezekiel 33:12
"Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: 'The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.'
Ezekiel 33:19
But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it.
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Cross References
Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
Jeremiah 50:20
In those days and in that time," says the LORD, "The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; And the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; For I will pardon those whom I preserve.
Ezekiel 18:24
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.
Ezekiel 33:16
None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
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Cross References
Psalms 18:20 - 24
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
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Cross References
Lamentations 3:33
For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.
Ezekiel 18:32
"For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"
Ezekiel 33:11
"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?'
1 Timothy 2:4
Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 15:11
I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as kin...
2 Chronicles 24:2
Joash did what was right in the sight of the LO...
2 Chronicles 24:17 - 22
Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of ...
Ezekiel 3:20
Again, when a righteous man turns from his righ...
Ezekiel 18:26
When a righteous man turns away from his righte...
Ezekiel 33:18
When the righteous turns from his righteousness...
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Cross References
2 Peter 2:20
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:29
Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
Ezekiel 33:17
Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' But it is their way which is not fair!
Ezekiel 33:20
"Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways."
Malachi 2:17
You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him? " In that you say, "Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of justice?
Malachi 3:13 - 15
"Your words have been harsh against Me," Says the LORD, "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:24
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.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:21
But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:14
If, however, he begets a son Who sees all the sins which his father has done, And considers but does not do likewise.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 18:25
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
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Cross References
Ezekiel 7:3
Now the end has come upon you, And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations.
Ezekiel 33:20
"Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways."
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Cross References
Matthew 3:2
And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent.
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Cross References
Isaiah 1:16
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Ephesians 4:22
That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Ephesians 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
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Cross References
Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Jeremiah 32:39
Then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.
Ezekiel 11:19
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
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Cross References
Lamentations 3:33
For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.
Ezekiel 33:11
"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?'
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
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Cross References
Proverbs 4:2
For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.
Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:6
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.