21 But if the wicked will return from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my [a]statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, and shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be [b]mentioned unto him, but in his [c]righteousness that he hath done, he shall live.

23 [d]Have I any desire that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God? [e]or shall he not live, if he return from his ways?

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:21 He joineth the observation of the commandments with repentance: for none can repent in deed, except he labor to keep the Law.
  2. Ezekiel 18:22 Or, not laid to his charge.
  3. Ezekiel 18:22 That is, in the fruits of his faith which declare that God doth accept him.
  4. Ezekiel 18:23 He speaketh this to commend God’s mercy to poor sinners, who rather is ready to pardon than to punish, as his long suffering declareth, Ezek. 33:11. Albeit God in his eternal counsel appointed the death and damnation of the reprobate, yet the end of his counsel was not their death only, but chiefly his own glory. Also because he doth not approve sin, therefore it is here said that he would have them to turn away from it, that they might live.
  5. Ezekiel 18:23 Or, rather that he may return from his ways, and live.

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