16. None of the sins they committed shall be remembered against them. If they do what is right and just, they shall surely live.
17. Your people say, “The way of the Lord is not fair!” But it is their way that is not fair.
18. When the just turn away from justice and do wrong, they shall die for it.
19. When the wicked turn away from wickedness and do what is right and just, because of this they shall live.
20. But still you say, “The way of the Lord is not fair!” I will judge each of you according to your ways, house of Israel.
21. On the fifth day of the tenth month, in the twelfth year of our exile, the survivor came to me from Jerusalem and said, “The city is taken!”
22. The hand of the Lord had come upon me the evening before the survivor arrived and opened my mouth when he reached me in the morning. My mouth was opened, and I was mute no longer.
23. The word of the Lord came to me:
24. Son of man, these who live among the ruins in the land of Israel are saying: “Abraham was only one person, yet he was given possession of the land. Since we are many, the land must be given to us as our possession.”