Ezekiel 18:20-28

20It is the person who does wrong things who will die. A son will not receive punishment because of his father's sins. And a father will not receive punishment because of his son's sins. Righteous people will receive the good things that they deserve for the good things that they have done. But wicked people will receive the punishment that they deserve for the wicked things that they have done.

21But a wicked person might turn away from the sins that he has been doing. He might decide to obey my laws and do things that are right and good. If he does that, he will certainly continue to live. He will not die as his punishment.

22I would no longer say that he is guilty because of the sins that he has done. Instead, he will continue to live, because he has done things that are right.

23It does not make me happy when a wicked person dies. I want wicked people to stop doing wicked things. Then I am happy because they will continue to live. That is what the Almighty Lord says.

24A righteous person may stop doing things that are good and right. He may start to do the same disgusting things that wicked people do. Then he will not continue to live. I will not remember any of the good things that he did. Instead, I will punish him because of the sins that he has done. He has not been faithful to me, so he will die.

25But you say, “The Lord is not doing what is right!” So listen to me, Israel's people. It is you who are not doing what is right! It is not me!

26If a righteous person stops doing good things and he does bad things instead, he will die. Yes, he will die because of the wrong things that he has done.

27And if a wicked person stops doing wicked things and he does things that are right, he will continue to live.

28That wicked person realized that he was doing bad things. So he turned away from his sins. Because of that he will certainly continue to live. He will not die.