“If I say

To the wicked,

O wicked ones!

You shall surely die!’

If you do not speak

To warn

The wicked ones

To turn

From their ways,

The wicked ones

Shall die

In their iniquity.

But I will require

Their blood

At your hand.

However,

If you warn

The wicked ones

To turn

From their ways,

But they do not turn

From their ways,

The wicked ones

Shall die

In their iniquity.

But you will have saved

Your life.”

Yahweh explained to Ezekiel that if he said the wicked ones would die, and Ezekiel did not warn them, it was his fault. If Ezekiel did not warn these wicked ones to turn from their wicked ways of iniquity, their blood would be on his hands. On the other hand, if he warned them to turn from their wicked ways, and they did not, it was not his fault. The wicked ones would die, but Ezekiel’s life would be spared. He would not have any of their blood on his hands, since he had warned them.