Repent and Live

At the time of Babylonian exile, what did it mean to be righteous? Keeping the 10 commandments? Let's read Ezekiel. Don't feel strange even if Ezekiel does not list the 10 commandments like Exodus. Leviticus does not either. Here are the verses.
if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of impurity,
does not oppress any one, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
does not lend at interest or take any increase, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between man and man,
walks in my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances --- he is righteous, he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 18:6-9). Nearly identical wordings are repeated in 18:15-17.
Jews are a very pragmatic people, like us Chinese. They do not speculate on the nature of righteousness. They care less about abstract principles but concrete actions. Do such and such and a man is righteous. God will reward according.
The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself (Ezekiel 18:20).
Then Ezekiel turns to talk about repentance.
But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live.
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? (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
God does not find any pleasure in the death of the wicked. Rather, God wants to see that they repent and live. God is not God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27).
Then Ezekiel turns to warn the righteous.
But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die (Ezekiel 18:24). Oh, righteous man, God will not remember your righteousness when you commit iniquity! So, don't stay in your comfort zone. Repent and live!
Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says the Lord GOD; so turn, and live (Ezekiel 18:31-32). Repent and live. With this, Ezekiel concludes God's words.

My God, I have sinned. But my heart is so hardened that I am not willing to admit them, not courageous enough to see them. Have mercy and heal me. Tame my arrogant heart that I may humbly admit them and receive Your new Spirit. Amen.