יחזקאל, פרק ל״ג, פסוק ט״ו

The journey of true repentance begins by repairing the damage done to other people. A person who has acted wrongly must first correct their past mistakes by addressing items they took unlawfully. For example, if someone took collateral unjustly, or held onto a poor person's garment that the Torah requires to be returned before sunset every day, they must give it back [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

There is a clear distinction in how different financial wrongs are made right. Returning an item refers to handing back the actual physical object to its owner, which is how collateral is handled. Paying, however, means giving the monetary value of an item, which applies to stolen goods that must be compensated for financially [מלבי״ם].

Once the past is corrected, the focus shifts to the future. From this point forward, the person chooses to follow the laws of the Torah, which bring life to those who keep them, and commits to avoiding any further wrongs [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The ultimate outcome of this complete process—repairing past mistakes and committing to a new path—is life. Any previous harsh judgment is canceled, and the person will live [מצודת דוד].