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Saturday, July 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Amplified Bible

Ezekiel 18:23

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked," says the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn [away] from his [malevolent] acts and live?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Children;   Death;   God Continued...;   Judgment;   Penitent;   Repentance;   Responsibility;   Seekers;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Death;   Dying;   Life-Death;   Man;   Wicked, the;   The Topic Concordance - Death;   Life;   Pleasure;   Turning;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conversion;   Death of the Wicked, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Repentance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Death;   Ezekiel;   Life;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Death;   Ethics;   Ezekiel;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Individual;   Self-Examination;   Zeal;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 11 To Desire, Will, Purpose;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Lead;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Conversion;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anger;   Atonement;   Captivity;   Judaism;   Theology;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
Hebrew Names Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
King James Version
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God : and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
English Standard Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God , and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
New American Standard Bible
"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he would turn from his ways and live?
New Century Version
I do not really want the wicked to die, says the Lord God . I want them to stop their bad ways and live.
World English Bible
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Haue I any desire that the wicked should die, sayth the Lord God? or shall he not liue, if he returne from his wayes?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
Legacy Standard Bible
Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares Lord Yahweh, "is it not that he should turn from his ways and live?
Berean Standard Bible
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Would I not prefer he turn from his ways and live?
Contemporary English Version
I, the Lord God, don't like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live.
Complete Jewish Bible
Do I take any pleasure at all in having the wicked person die?" asks Adonai Elohim . "Wouldn't I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
Darby Translation
Have I any pleasure at all in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; is it not in his turning from his way, that he may live?
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord God says, "I don't want evil people to die. I want them to change their lives so that they can live!
George Lamsa Translation
I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, says the LORD God; but rather that he should return from his evil ways and live.
Good News Translation
Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?" asks the Sovereign Lord . "No, I would rather see them repent and live.
Lexham English Bible
Have I delight by any means in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord Yahweh, and not at his turning from his way, so that he lives?
Literal Translation
Delighting, do I delight in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord Jehovah. Is it not that he should turn from his ways and live?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For haue I eny pleasure in the death of a synner, saieth the LORDE God? but rather that he conuerte, and lyue?
American Standard Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Bible in Basic English
Have I any pleasure in the death of the evil-doer? says the Lord: am I not pleased if he is turned from his way so that he may have life?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD; and not rather that he should return from his ways, and live?
King James Version (1611)
Haue I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God ? And not that he should returne from his wayes, and liue?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For haue I any pleasure in the death of a sinner saith the Lorde God? shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Shall I at all desire death of the sinner, saith the Lord, as I desire that he should turn from his evil way, and live?
English Revised Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord GOD: and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether the deth of the wickid man is of my wille, seith the Lord God, and not that he be conuertid fro his weies, and lyue?
Update Bible Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Webster's Bible Translation
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?
New English Translation
Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the sovereign Lord ? Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?
New King James Version
Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
New Living Translation
"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord . Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
New Life Bible
Am I pleased with the death of a sinful man?" says the Lord God. "No, instead I would like him to turn from his sinful ways and live.
New Revised Standard
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God , and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Could I take delight, in the death of the lawless? Demandeth My Lord. Yahweh. Must it not be in his turning from his ways in which case he shall live?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live?
Revised Standard Version
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Young's Literal Translation
Do I at all desire the death of the wicked? An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Is it not in his turning back from his way -- And he hath lived?

Contextual Overview

21"But if the wicked man turns [away] from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 22"All of his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced [for his moral and spiritual integrity in every area and relationship], he will live. 23"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked," says the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn [away] from his [malevolent] acts and live?24"But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin and acts in accordance with all the repulsive things that the wicked man does, will he live? All of his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered because of the treachery that he has committed and for his sin which he has committed; for them he shall die. 25"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26"When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin and dies because of it, it is for his sin which he has committed that he dies. 27"Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28"Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 29"Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right!' O house of Israel, are My ways not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I any: Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11, Lamentations 3:33, Hosea 11:8, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9

not that: Exodus 34:6, Exodus 34:7, Job 33:27, Job 33:28, Psalms 147:11, Jeremiah 31:20, Micah 7:18, Luke 15:4-7, Luke 15:10, Luke 15:22-24, Luke 15:32, James 2:13

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 8:4 - turn Jeremiah 18:11 - return Jeremiah 36:3 - they may Luke 15:5 - rejoicing Romans 11:11 - Have they stumbled

Cross-References

Genesis 18:4
"Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree.
Genesis 18:5
And I will bring a piece of bread to refresh and sustain you; after that you may go on, since you have come to your servant." And they replied, "Do as you have said."
Genesis 18:6
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, get ready three measures of fine meal, knead it and bake cakes."
Genesis 18:7
Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it.
Genesis 18:25
"Far be it from You to do such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?"
Genesis 20:4
Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, "Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]?
2 Samuel 24:17
When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he spoke to the LORD and said, "Behold, I [alone] am the one who has sinned and done wrong; but these sheep (people of Israel), what have they done [to deserve this]? Please let Your hand be [only] against me and my father's house (family)."
Job 8:3
"Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Job 34:17
"Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern? And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?
Psalms 73:28
But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 18:23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? — No! That is foreign to him whose name is love, and whose nature is mercy. On the contrary he "wills that he should return from his evil ways and live."

And if God can have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, he cannot have made a decree to abandon him to the evil of his nature, and then damn him for what he could not avoid: for as God can do nothing with which he is not pleased, so he can decree nothing with which he is not pleased. But he is "not pleased with the death of a sinner," therefore he cannot have made a decree to bring him to this death.


 
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