Ezekiel 18:21-30

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.

29But you, Israel's people, say, “The Lord is not doing what is right!” Do you really think that is true? No, you are the people who do not do what is right, you Israelites!

30The Almighty Lord says this to you, Israel's people: I will judge each of you as you deserve for the way that you live. So change how you live! Turn away from all the wicked things that you do. Then your sins will not finally destroy you.