God Deals Justly with Individuals

18 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “^(A)What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,

³ As I live,” declares the Lord ^[b]God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. ⁴ Behold, ^(C)all ^[c]souls are Mine; the ^[d]soul of the father as well as the ^[e]soul of the son is Mine. The ^[f]soul who ^(D)sins will die.

²⁵ Yet you say, ‘^(A)The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is ^(B)My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? ²⁶ When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. ²⁷ Again, when a wicked man turns away ^(C)from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. ²⁸ Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, 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 conduct,” declares the Lord God. “^(D)Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. ^31 (E)Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a ^(F)new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? ³² For I have ^(G)no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”