There were wicked people living in the neighborhood of Rebbe Meir. They caused Rebbe Meir great pain.

Rebbe Meir begged mercy that they should die. His wife, Bruriah, said to him, “What are you thinking? It says in the verse, ‘Sins will be eliminated from the earth.’ It doesn’t say that the sinners will be eliminated. If they stop their wicked ways, their sins will be eliminated, not them. You should pray that they should repent and return in teshuvah.”

Rebbe Meir prayed, and they returned in teshuvah.