Midrash su Ezechiele 33:19

(Ib.) Resh Lakish said: "Penitence is great, since it mitigates intentional crimes to the status of inadvertent acts. As it is written (Hos. 14, 2) For thou hast stumbled in thy iniquity. Iniquity, is intentional, and yet it is called stumbling." Is this so? Did not Resh Lakish himself say: "Penitence is so great, that intentional sins are accounted to him [who repents] as though they were merits, as it is said (Ezek. 33, 19) And when the wicked returneth from his wickedness, and executeth justice and righteousness, he shall surely live for them." This presents no difficulty. The latter deals with one who repents out of love, and the former with one who repents out of fear.

Resh Laqish said: Could you hear of anything greater than this? What is written (in Ezek. 33:19)? AND WHEN A WICKED PERSON TURNS BACK FROM HIS WICKEDNESS [AND DOES WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT, ON ACCOUNT OF THESE THINGS HE SHALL LIVE]. "And he shall live" is not written here, but ON ACCOUNT OF THESE THINGS HE SHALL LIVE. < It is > because the Holy One makes them < to be > merit for him < that > he shall live by means of them. Ergo (in Cant. 5:16): HIS PALATE (i.e., what he says) IS MOST SWEET.

2 Rabi Abahu says it says (Exodus 23,4): 'Three pilgrimages you will celebrate for me in the year,' The Holy One established three pilgrimages and in the merit of the fathers that don't come before The Holy One empty-handed, and even in these generations even though they are troubled (narrow, stressed), the Torah has not moved from them as it says (Isiah 59,21): 'Should not be removed from your lips or your offspring lips, or your offspring's offsprings lips...'.