10 So humanity’s child, you tell the Israeli people, ‘You are saying this, “Our errors and our disobedience have come back on us and they’re hurting us. How can we go on living like this?” ’ 11 Tell them that this is the master Yahweh’s declaration: ‘As I live, I don’t delight in the death of the wicked, because if the wicked repent from their ways, then they’ll live! So turn back, yes turn around from your wicked ways, because why should you Israeli people die?’

12 So now, humanity’s child, you tell your people, ‘The righteousness of righteous people won’t save them if they sin. The wickedness of wicked people won’t cause them to perish if they repent from their sin. No, the righteous person won’t be able to live because of his righteousness if he sins. 13 If I say that a righteous person will surely live, and if they trust in their righteousness and then commits injustice, I won’t call to mind any of the good things they did—that person will die for the wickedness they committed. 14 Again, if I say to the wicked, “You will surely die,” but if they then repent from their sins and do what’s just and right, 15 like returning loan guarantees that were wickedly demanded, or like making restitution for what they’ve stolen, and then if they obey the instructions that give life and no longer disobey, then those formerly wicked people will surely live—they won’t die. 16 None of the sins that they’ve committed will be called to mind against them. Those who’ve acted justly and rightly, will certainly live.

17 But your people say, “The master’s way isn’t fair!” but it is your ways that aren’t fair. 18 When the righteous person turns away from doing what is right and disobeys, then they’ll will die in their sin. 19 When the wicked person turns away from doing evil and does what is just and right, they’ll live because of those things. 20 Yes, you people say, “The master’s way isn’t fair!” but I’ll judge each of you Israeli people according to your behaviour.”