God Deals Justly with Individuals

18 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “^(A)What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying,

³ As I live,” declares the Lord ^[b]God, “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. ⁴ Behold, ^(C)all ^[c]souls are Mine; the ^[d]soul of the father as well as the ^[e]soul of the son is Mine. The ^[f]soul who ^(D)sins will die.

⁵ “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, ⁶ if he does not ^(E)eat at the mountain shrines or ^(F)raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or ^(G)defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— ⁷ and if a man does not oppress anyone, but ^(H)restores to the debtor his pledge, ^(I)does not commit robbery, but ^(J)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, ⁸ and if he does not ^[g]lend money at ^(K)interest or take ^[h](L)interest, if he keeps his hand from injustice and ^(M)executes true justice between one person and another, ⁹ if he walks in ^(N)My statutes and keeps My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—^(O)he is righteous and will certainly ^(P)live,” declares the Lord God.

³⁰ “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “^(A)Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you. ^31 (B)Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a ^(C)new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I take ^(D)no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live!”