Ezekiel 18:21–32

²¹“But if the ^awicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

²²“^aAll his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his ^brighteousness which he has done, he will live.

²³“^aDo I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares Lord Yahweh, “is it not that he should ^bturn from his ways and live?

²⁴“But when a righteous man ^aturns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? ^bAll his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his ^cunfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

²⁵“Yet you say, ‘^aThe way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is ^bMy way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?

²⁶“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has done he will die.

²⁷“Again, when a wicked man turns away ^afrom his wickedness which he has done and does justice and righteousness, he will preserve his life.

²⁸“Again, he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had done; he shall surely live; he shall not die.

²⁹“But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

³⁰“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his way,” declares Lord Yahweh. “^1aTurn back and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.

³¹“^aCast away from yourselves all your transgressions which you have committed and ¹make yourselves a ^bnew heart and a new spirit! Now why will you die, O house of Israel?

³²“For I have ^ano pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Therefore, ¹turn back and live.”