Ezekiel 18

1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?

3 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

5 Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

6 He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.

7 He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

8 He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.

9 He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.

10 Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things,

11 though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.

12 He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.

13 He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

14 Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:

15 He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.

16 He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

17 He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.

18 As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.

19 Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.

20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

22 None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.

23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

24 But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

27 But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

28 Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

31 Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

1 ¶ The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3 [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

6 [And] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

7 And hath not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

8 He [that] hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, [that] hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he [is] just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

10 ¶ If he beget a son [that is] a robber, a shedder of blood, and [that] doeth the like to [any] one of these [things],

11 And that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

14 Now, lo, [if] he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

15 [That] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, [but] hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

17 [That] hath taken off his hand from the poor, [that] hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

18 [As for] his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did [that] which [is] not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 ¶ But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 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?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

26 When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

27 Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

30 ¶ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

2 Why do ye practise this proverb among you in the land of Israel, saying, The fathers did eat herbs, but the children's teeth were dulled with them?

3 As surely as I live, saith the LORD GOD, let no more such a proverb pass among you in Israel.

4 For, behold, all souls are mine: the Father's soul is mine, as well as the Son's soul. Whichever soul sinneth, it shall die.

5 If therefore one be godly, that doeth righteousness and good;

6 He that eateth not upon the mountains, nor lifteth up his eyes unto the idols of the house of Israel, nor defileth his neighbour's wife, nor lieth with his wife in her sickness;

7 Who hath not wronged any man; who restoreth the pledge of a debtor; who taketh not away aught by force; who giveth bread to the hungry, and clotheeth the naked;

8 He that ususteth not; he that transgresseth not; he that turneth away his hand from iniquity; he that judgeth rightly among men;

9 He that walketh after my statutes, and keepeth my commandments, to do them earnestly: this is a righteous man; he shall have life, saith the LORD GOD.

10 But if he beget a son, and he be a murderer, and shed blood, or do any of these things

11 And he hath not done any of the rest, but hath eaten upon the mountains, and hath defiled his neighbour's wife,

12 He hath wronged the poor and miserable, he hath taken by violence, he hath not returned the pledge, he hath lifted up his eyes unto idols, that he might commit an abomination,

13 Giveth upon usury, translated, shall he live? He shall not live, but because he hath done all these abominations, he shall die the death; his blood shall be upon him.

14 And he begetteth a son, which seeth all such sin as his father doeth, and feareth, and doeth no such thing:

15 Eat not upon the mountains, nor lift up his eyes unto the idols of the house of Israel, nor defile his neighbour's wife,

16 Damage no man, keep not the pledge, take not by force, divide his bread with the hungry, and clothe the naked;

17 He that turneth away his hand from iniquity, that taketh not usury, nor extravagance, but keepeth my commandments, and walketh after my statutes: he shall not die for his father's iniquity, but shall live.

18 But his father, which hath wrought violence and iniquity, and hath wrought iniquity among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

19 Then say ye, Why should not a son bear his father's iniquity? Because he hath done right and well, and kept and done all my statutes, he shall live.

20 For whatsoever soul sinneth, that soul shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: but the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the unrighteousness of the unrighteous shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do right and well, he shall live, and not die.

22 All his transgressions which he hath committed shall not be remembered; but he shall live for the righteousness that he doeth.

23 Thinkest thou that I have pleasure in the death of the wicked, saith the LORD GOD, and not rather that he turn from his way, and live?

24 And if the righteous turn from his righteousness, and do evil, and live in all the abominations which the wicked doeth, shall he live? Yea, all his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but in his transgression and in his sins which he hath done he shall die.

25 Nor say ye, The LORD dealeth not justly. Hear therefore, ye of the house of Israel, Is it not so, that I am right, and ye are wrong?

26 For if the righteous turn from his righteousness, and do evil, he must die: but he must die for his wickedness which he hath done.

27 Again, if the wicked turn from his iniquity which he hath done, and do right and well, he shall keep his soul alive.

28 Because he hath seen and turned from all his wickedness which he hath done, he shall live, and not die.

29 Nor say they of the house of Israel, The LORD dealeth not righteously. Shall I be wrong? Ye of the house of Israel are wrong.

30 Therefore will I judge you, ye of the house of Israel, every man according to his character, saith the LORD GOD. Therefore repent ye of all your transgressions, that ye fall not because of iniquity.

31 Cast away from you all your transgression, that ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit. For why then wilt thou die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of the dying, saith the Lord GOD. Therefore repent, and ye shall live.