“Say to them!

As I live!

Says Yahweh God!

‘I have no pleasure

In the death

Of the wicked.

But the wicked

Should turn

From their ways.

They should live.

Turn back!

Turn back

From your evil ways!

Why will you die?

O house of Israel!’”

Yahweh gave explicit instructions to Ezekiel. He was to tell the house of Israel that Yahweh did not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked ones. He would rather have them turn away from their evil ways and thus live. Why would they want to die? The house of Israel could live, if they ended their wicked ways.