A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.

Thus says the Lord God, if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed,

if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him.

He shall live because of the virtue he practiced. Do I indeed deprive any pleasure from the death

of the wicked, says the Lord? Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable

things that the wicked man does, Can he do this and still live?

None of his virtuous deed shall be remembered

because he has broken faith and committed sin.

Because of this, he shall die.

And you say, the Lord's way is not fair. Here now, House of Israel,

is it my way that is unfair? Or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away

from virtue to commit iniquity and dies, it's because

of the iniquity he committed that he must die.

But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and

just, he shall preserve his life since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed.

He shall surely live. He shall not die.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.

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