Again the wordof the LORDcameuntome, saying, Sonof man, speaktothe childrenof thy people, and sayuntothem, WhenI bringthe swordupona land, if the peopleof the landtakeamanof their coasts, and sethim for their watchman: If when he seeththe swordcomeuponthe land, he blowthe trumpet, and warnthe people; Then whosoever heareththe soundof the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the swordcome, and take him away, his bloodshall beupon his own head. He heardthe soundof the trumpet, and took not warning; his bloodshall beupon him. But hethat taketh warningshall deliverhis soul. But ifthe watchmanseethe swordcome, and blownotthe trumpet, and the peoplebe notwarned; if the swordcome, and take any personfrom amongthem, heis taken awayin his iniquity; but his bloodwill I requireat the watchman's hand. So thou, O sonof man, I have setthee a watchmanunto the houseof Israel; therefore thou shalt hearthe wordat my mouth, and warnthem fromme. When I sayunto the wicked, O wicked man , thou shalt surely die; if thou dost notspeakto warnthe wickedfrom his way, thatwicked man shall diein his iniquity; but his bloodwill I requireat thine hand. Nevertheless, ifthouwarnthe wickedof his wayto turnfromit; if he do notturnfrom his way, heshall diein his iniquity; but thouhast deliveredthy soul. Therefore, O thousonof man, speakuntothe houseof Israel; Thusye speak, saying, Ifour transgressionsand our sins be uponus, and wepine awayin them, howshould we then live? Sayuntothem, As Ilive, saiththe LordGOD, I have no pleasurein the deathof the wicked; butthat the wickedturnfrom his wayand live: turnye, turnye from your evilways; for whywill ye die, O houseof Israel? Therefore, thousonof man, sayuntothe childrenof thy people, The righteousnessof the righteousshall notdeliverhim in the dayof his transgression: as for the wickednessof the wicked, he shall notfallthereby in the daythat he turnethfrom his wickedness; neithershall the righteousbe ableto livefor his righteousness in the daythat he sinneth. When I shall sayto the righteous, that he shall surely live; if hetrusttohis own righteousness, and commitiniquity, allhis righteousnessesshall notbe remembered; but for his iniquitythathe hath committed, he shall diefor it. Again, when I sayunto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turnfrom his sin, and dothat which is lawfuland right; If the wickedrestorethe pledge, give againthat he had robbed, walkin the statutesof life, withoutcommittinginiquity; he shall surely live, he shall notdie. Noneof his sinsthathe hath committedshall be mentionedunto him: he hath donethat which is lawfuland right; he shall surely live. Yet the childrenof thy peoplesay, The wayof the Lordis not equal: but as for them, their wayis not equal. When the righteousturnethfrom his righteousness, and committethiniquity, he shall even diethereby. But if the wickedturnfrom his wickedness, and dothat which is lawfuland right, heshall livethereby. Yet ye say, The wayof the Lordis not equal. O ye houseof Israel, I will judgeyou every oneafter his ways. And it came to passin the twelfthyearof our captivity, in the tenth month , in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escapedout of Jerusalemcameuntome, saying, The cityis smitten. Now the handof the LORDwasuponme in the evening, beforehe that was escapedcame; and had openedmy mouth, untilhe cametome in the morning; and my mouthwas opened, and I was no more dumb. Then the wordof the LORDcameuntome, saying, Sonof man, they that inhabitthosewastesofthe landof Israelspeak, saying, Abrahamwasone, and he inheritedthe land: but we are many; the landis givenus for inheritance. Whereforesayuntothem, Thussaiththe LordGOD; Ye eatwiththe blood, and lift upyour eyestowardyour idols, and shedblood: and shall ye possessthe land? Ye standuponyour sword, ye workabomination, and ye defileevery onehis neighbor's wife: and shall ye possessthe land? Saythou thusuntothem, Thussaiththe LordGOD; As Ilive, surelythey that are in the wastesshall fallby the sword, and him that is inthe openfieldwill I giveto the beaststo be devoured, and they that be in the fortsand in the cavesshall dieof the pestilence. For I will laythe landmost desolate, and the pompof her strengthshall cease; and the mountainsof Israelshall be desolate, that noneshall pass through. Then shall they knowthatI am the LORD, when I have laidthe landmost desolatebecause ofalltheir abominationswhichthey have committed. Also, thousonof man, the childrenof thy peoplestill are talkingagainst thee bythe wallsand in the doorsof the houses, and speakonetoanother, every onetohis brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hearwhatis the wordthat cometh forthfromthe LORD. And they comeuntothee as the peoplecometh, and they sitbeforethee as my people, and they hearthy words, but they will notdothem: forwith their mouththeyshowmuch love, but their heartgoethaftertheir covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovelysongof one that hath a pleasantvoice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hearthy words, but they dothem not. And when this cometh to pass, ( lo, it will come,) then shall they knowthata prophethath beenamongthem.