21. “If an evil person stops sinning and keeps my laws, if he does what is right and good, he will not die; he will certainly live.
22. All his sins will be forgiven, and he will live, because he did what is right.
23. Do you think I enjoy seeing an evil person die?” asks the Sovereign Lord. “No, I would rather see him repent and live.
24. “But if a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing all the evil, disgusting things that evil people do, will he go on living? No! None of the good he did will be remembered. He will die because of his unfaithfulness and his sins.
25. “But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.’ Listen to me, you Israelites. Do you think my way of doing things isn't right? It is your way that isn't right.
26. When a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing evil and then dies, he dies because of the evil he has done.
27. When someone evil stops sinning and does what is right and good, he saves his life.
28. He realizes what he is doing and stops sinning, so he will certainly not die, but go on living.
29. And you Israelites say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.’ You think my way isn't right, do you? It is your way that isn't right.