Ezekiel 18:20-31

New International Reader's Version

²⁰ A person will die because of their own sins. A child will not be guilty because of what their parent did. And a parent will not be guilty because of what their child did. The right things a godly person does will be added to their account. The wrong things a sinful person does will be charged against them.

²¹ “But suppose a sinful person turns away from all the sins they have committed. And they obey all my rules. They do what is fair and right. Then you can be sure they will live. They will not die. ²² None of the sins they have committed will be held against them. Because of the godly things they have done, they will live. ²³ When sinful people die, it does not give me any joy,” announces the Lord and King. “But when they turn away from their sins and live, that makes me very happy.

²⁴ “Suppose a godly person stops doing what is right. And they sin. They do the same evil things a sinful person does. They do things I hate. Then they will not live. I will not remember any of the right things they have done. They have not been faithful to me. They have also committed many other sins. So they are guilty. They will die.

²⁵ “But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn’t fair.’ Listen to me, you Israelites. What I do is always fair. What you do is not. ²⁶ Suppose a godly person stops doing what is right. And they sin. Then they will die because of it. They will die because of the sin they have committed. ²⁷ But suppose a sinful person turns away from the evil things they have done. And they do what is fair and right. Then they will save their life. ²⁸ They think about all the evil things they have done. And they turn away from them. So you can be sure they will live. They will not die. ²⁹ But the Israelites still say, ‘What the Lord does isn’t fair.’ People of Israel, what I do is always fair. What you do is not.

³⁰ “So I will judge you Israelites. I will judge each of you in keeping with what you have done,” announces the Lord and King. “Turn away from your sins! Turn away from all the evil things you have done. Then sin will not bring you down. ³¹ Get rid of all the evil things you have done. Let me give you a new heart and a new spirit. Then you will be faithful to me. Why should you die, people of Israel?