3. When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people.
4. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.
5. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.
6. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’
7. “Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.
8. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
9. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.
10. “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’
11. 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?
12. “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.