11. Say to them, This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? If the wicked turn from their ways, they will live. Turn, completely turn from your wicked ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?
12. You, human one, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous doesn’t rescue them when they begin to sin. Nor does the wickedness of the wicked make them stumble if they turn from their wickedness. If the righteous sin, their righteousness won’t protect them.
13. Even if I’ve told the righteous they will live, none of their righteous deeds will be remembered if they trust in their righteousness and do wrong. They will die because of their evil deeds.
14. And even if I have pronounced a death sentence on the wicked, if they turn from sin and do what is just and right—
15. if they return pledges, make restitution for robbery, and walk in life-giving regulations in order not to sin—they will live and not die.
16. None of the sins they’ve committed will be remembered against them. They’ve done what is just and right, and they will live.
17. Yet your people say, "My Lord’s way doesn’t measure up." Isn’t it their ways that don’t measure up?
18. When the righteous turn from their righteousness to do wrong, they will die because of it.
19. And when the wicked turn from their wickedness to do what is just and right, it is for that reason they will live.