Ezekiel 18:23

23 Whether the death of the wicked man is of my will, saith the Lord God, and not that he be converted from his ways, and live? (Is the death of the wicked person my desire, saith the Lord God, and not, rather, that he be turned from his evil ways, and so live?)

Ezekiel 18:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 18:23

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith
the Lord God
Perish by sword, famine, or pestilence, or go into captivity; this, though the Lord's will and work, yet is his strange work; mercy is his delight. This is to be understood not absolutely; for the Lord does take pleasure in these things, as they fulfil his word, secure the honour of his truth and holiness, and glorify his justice, and especially when they are the means of reclaiming men from the evil of their ways; but comparatively, as follows: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?
that is, it is more pleasing to God that a man should repent of his sins, and forsake his vicious course of life, and enjoy good things, than to go on in his sins, and bring ruin on himself, here and hereafter.

Ezekiel 18:23 In-Context

21 Forsooth if a wicked man doeth penance of all his sins which he wrought, and keepeth all my behests, and doeth doom and rightfulness, he shall live by life, and shall not die. (And if a wicked person doeth penance for all his sins which he did, and keepeth, or obeyeth, all my commands, and doeth what is just and right, then he shall live, and shall not die.)

22 I shall not have mind of all his wickednesses which he wrought; he shall live in his rightfulness which he wrought. (I shall not remember all his wickednesses which he did; he shall live in his righteousness, or because of his righteous deeds, which he hath done.)

23 Whether the death of the wicked man is of my will, saith the Lord God, and not that he be converted from his ways, and live? (Is the death of the wicked person my desire, saith the Lord God, and not, rather, that he be turned from his evil ways, and so live?)

24 Forsooth if a just man turneth away himself from his rightfulness, and doeth wickedness by all his abominations, which a wicked man is wont to work, whether he shall live? All his rightfulnesses which he did, shall not be had in mind; in his trespassing by which he trespassed, and in his sin which he sinned, he shall die in those. (And if a just person turneth himself away from his righteousness, and doeth wickedness with all his abominations, which a wicked person is wont to do, shall he live? Nay! All his righteousness which he did, shall not be remembered; and in the trespassing by which he trespassed, and in the sin in which he sinned, in those he shall die.)

25 And ye said, The way of the Lord is not even. Therefore, the house of Israel, hear ye, whether my way is not even, and not more, your ways be depraved? (And ye said, The way of the Lord is not equal, or not fair. And so, O house of Israel, hear ye, is not my way equal, or fair, and not only that, but that your ways be depraved?)