21 “But if the (A)wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 22 (B)All his offenses which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his (C)righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23 (D)Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “[a]rather than that he would (E)turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous person (F)turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? (G)All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his (H)treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:23 Lit is it not

21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. 22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. 24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

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