16. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die therein.
19. And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
20. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
21. And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
22. Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and he had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
23. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
24. Son of man, they that inhabit those waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
25. Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes unto your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
26. Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
27. Thus shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD As I live, surely they that are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the strong holds and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
28. And I will make the land a desolation and an astonishment, and the pride of her power shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
29. Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment, because of all their abominations which they have committed.
30. And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, everyone to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.