18:25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s conduct 1 is unjust!’ Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust? 18:26 When a righteous person turns back from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing, he will die for it; 2 because of the wrongdoing he has done, he will die. 18:27 When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. 18:28 Because he considered 3 and turned from all the sins he had done, he will surely live; he will not die. 18:29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s conduct is unjust!’ Is my conduct unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?
18:30 “Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, 4 O house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent 5 and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. 6 18:31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! 7 Why should you die, O house of Israel? 18:32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone, 8 declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
1 tn Heb “way.”
2 tn Heb “for them” or “because of them.”
3 tn Heb “he saw.”
4 tn Heb “ways.”
5 tn The verbs and persons in this verse are plural whereas the individual has been the subject of the chapter.
6 tn Or “leading to punishment.”
7 sn In Ezek 11:19, 36:26 the new heart and new spirit are promised as future blessings.
8 tn Heb “the death of the one dying.”