Ezekiel 18:25-32

18:25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s conduct ¹  is unjust!’ Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust? 18:26 When a righteous person turns back from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing, he will die for it; ²  because of the wrongdoing he has done, he will die. 18:27 When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. 18:28 Because he considered ³  and turned from all the sins he had done, he will surely live; he will not die. 18:29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s conduct is unjust!’ Is my conduct unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?

18:30 “Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, ⁴  O house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent ⁵  and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. ⁶  18:31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! ⁷  Why should you die, O house of Israel? 18:32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone, ⁸  declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

[18:25]  ¹ tn Heb “way.”

[18:26]  ² tn Heb “for them” or “because of them.”

[18:28]  ³ tn Heb “he saw.”

[18:30]  ⁴ tn Heb “ways.”

[18:30]  ⁵ tn The verbs and persons in this verse are plural whereas the individual has been the subject of the chapter.

[18:30]  ⁶ tn Or “leading to punishment.”

[18:31]  ⁵ sn In Ezek 11:19, 36:26 the new heart and new spirit are promised as future blessings.

[18:32]  ⁶ tn Heb “the death of the one dying.”