God Deals Justly with Individuals

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

³ As I live,” declares the Lord ^[b]God, “you certainly are 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, house of Israel! Is ^(B)My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? ²⁶ When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has committed he dies. ²⁷ But when a wicked person turns away ^(C)from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. ²⁸ Since he understood and turned away from all his offenses which he had committed, he shall certainly 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, house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

³⁰ “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “^(D)Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you. ^31 (E)Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a ^(F)new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I take ^(G)no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live!”