Bible Verses About Responsibility

When the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, he will die for it - for the wickedness he commits he will die.

And when the wicked person turns away from all the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he will save his life.

Because he thinks it over and repents of all the transgressions he committed, he will certainly live, not die.

Yet the house of Isra'el says, 'ADONAI's way isn't fair.' House of Isra'el, is it my ways that are unfair, or your ways that are unfair?

Therefore, house of Isra'el, I will judge each of you according to his ways," says Adonai ELOHIM. "Repent, and turn yourselves away from all your transgressions, so that they will not be a stumblingblock that brings guilt upon you.

The word of ADONAI came to me:

"Human being, speak to your people; say to them, 'Suppose I bring the sword on a country, and the people of that country take one of their men and appoint him their watchman.

Now if, upon seeing the sword coming against that country, he blows the shofar and warns the people;

then, if the sword comes and takes away someone who heard the sound of the shofar but paid no attention to it, the responsibility for that person's death will be his own -

he heard the shofar but paid no attention, so the responsibility for his death is his own; whereas if he had paid attention, he would have saved his life.

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the shofar, so that the people are not warned; and then the sword comes and takes any one of them, that one is indeed taken away in his guilt, but I will hold the watchman responsible for his death.'

"Likewise you, human being - I have appointed you as watchman for the house of Isra'el. Therefore, when you hear the word from my mouth, warn them for me.

When I tell the wicked person, 'Wicked person, you will certainly die'; and you fail to speak and warn the wicked person to leave his way; then that wicked person will die guilty; and I will hold you responsible for his death.

On the other hand, if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he doesn't turn from his way; then he will still die guilty, but you will have saved your own life.

"Therefore, you, human being, say to the house of Isra'el: 'You say, "Our crimes and sins are weighing us down, we're pining away because of them, how can we even stay alive?"'

Say to them, 'As I live,' swears Adonai ELOHIM, 'I take no pleasure in having the wicked person die, but in having the wicked person turn from his way and live. So repent! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, house of Isra'el?'

"Next, you, human being, say to your people: 'The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him, once he starts committing crimes; and likewise, the wickedness of the wicked person will not cause him to fall, once he turns from his wickedness. No, the righteous person cannot live by virtue of [his former righteousness], once he starts sinning.

So if, after I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, he begins trusting in his own [former] righteousness and starts committing crimes; then none of his [former] righteous actions will be remembered; on the contrary, he will die for the evil deeds he has committed.

Likewise, if, after I tell the wicked person, "You must die," he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right -

if the wicked person restores pledged property and returns what he stole, so that he lives by the laws that give life and does not commit evil deeds; then he will live, he will not die.

None of the sins he committed will be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he will surely live.'

"Now your people say, 'Adonai's way isn't fair!' But it is their way, theirs, that isn't fair!

When the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, he will die because of it.

And when the wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he will live because of it.

"When you come to a town or village, look for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave.