19. “But you ask, ‘Why isn’t the son punished for his father’s sin?’ It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live.
20. The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.
21. “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die.
22. All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did.
23. I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.
24. “But suppose a righteous person turns away from doing right and he does evil things. He does all the disgusting things that the wicked person did. Will he live? All the right things that he has done will not be remembered because of his unfaithfulness and because of his sin. He will die because of them.
25. “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Listen, nation of Israel, isn’t my way fair? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
26. When a righteous person turns away from doing right and does evil things, he will die. He will die because of the evil things he has done.
27. When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live.
28. He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die.
29. “But the nation of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Isn’t my way fair, nation of Israel? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?