THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

 

Ezekiel Chapter 18

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

2 What do you mean, when you use this proverb in the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, says the Lord GOD, you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, every person belongs to me; the soul of the father and the soul of the son are both mine: and the person who sins is the one who will die.

5 If a man is righteous, he will do what is lawful and right,

6 He will not eat at the hill shrines, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor will he defile his neighbor’s wife, or approach a menstruous woman,

7 He will not exploit anyone, or fail to return something given as security for a loan. He will not rob anyone, but will give food to the hungry, and cover the naked with clothes;

8 Nor will he lend money at interest, or take back more goods than he loaned, but keeps his hand from wrongdoing, and does what is truly right in dealing with others,

9 He lives according to my rules, and carries out my instructions, acting faithfully; such a man is righteous, and he will surely live, says the Lord GOD.

10 ¶ If he fathers a son who is a robber, one who sheds blood, and does any of these things,

11 While he himself has done none of them, a son who eats at the hill shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,

12 Who exploits the poor and needy, and takes things by force, who does not return what is given to secure a loan, and raises his eyes to idols, doing abominable things,

13 Who lends money at interest, and takes back more than he loaned: will he then live? he will not live: because he has done all these abominable things; he will surely die; his blood will be upon him.

14 Now, if he fathers a son, who sees all the sins that his father has done, and though he sees them does not do the same,

15 Who does not eat at the hill shrines, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, who does not defile his neighbor’s wife,

16 Who does not wrong anyone, or keep back what is given as security, or take things by force, but gives his food to the hungry, and provides the naked with clothes,

17 Who keeps his hand from hurting the poor, or taking interest or more than he loaned, but carries out my instructions, and lives according to my rules; he must not die for the sin of his father, he will surely live.

18 As for his father, he will die for his sin, because he cruelly exploited, and robbed his brothers with violence, and did those things that are wrong among his people.

19 Yet you ask, Why shouldn’t a son suffer for his father’s sin? Because the son does what is lawful and right, and keeps all my laws, and does what they require, he will surely live.

20 The soul that sins will die. The son will not suffer for the sins of the father, nor will the father suffer for the sins of the son: the righteousness of the righteous person will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be upon him.

21 ¶ But if the wicked person turns from all the sins that he has committed, and keeps my law, and does that which is lawful and right, he will surely live, he will not die.

22 None of the wrongs that he committed will be held against him: he will live because of the righteousness he has done.

23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? asks the Lord GOD: and not rather when he turns from his ways, and lives?

24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin, and acts according to all the abominations that the wicked do, will he live? All the righteousness that he has done will not be remembered: in the trespass that he has committed, and in the sin that he has done, in those he will die.

25 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Listen now, O house of Israel; Is my way unfair? No, it is your way that is unfair?

26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin, and dies; he dies for the wrong that he has done.

27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from the wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he saves his life.

28 Because he understands, and turns away from all the sins that he has committed, he will surely live, he will not die.

29 Still the house of Israel says, 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 deeds, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn from all your wicked ways; so sin will not be your ruin.

31 Get rid of all the wrongdoings, by which you have transgressed; and get yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why should you die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn from sin, and live.