1The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,2What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children' teeth are set on edge?3As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.4Behold, 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.5But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,6And 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,7And 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covered the naked with a garment;8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,9Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.10If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things ,11And that doeth not any of those duties , but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,12Hath 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,13Hath 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.14Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father' sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,15That 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,16Neither 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,17That 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.18As 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.19Yet 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.20The 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.21But 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.22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.23Have 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?24But 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.25Yet 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?26When 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.27Again, 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.28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.29Yet 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?30Therefore 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.31Cast 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?32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves , and live ye.
Ezekiel 18
English Standard Version
The Soul Who Sins Shall Die
1The word of the Lord came to me:2“What do you[1] mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? (Jer 31:29; Eze 12:22; Eze 16:44)3As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. (Jer 31:29; Eze 16:48)4Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. (Eze 18:20)5“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— (Eze 18:19; Eze 18:21; Eze 18:27)6if 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 menstrual impurity, (Le 18:19; Eze 18:11; Eze 18:15; Eze 22:9; Eze 22:10; Eze 22:11; Eze 33:25)7does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, (Ex 22:21; Ex 22:26; Isa 58:7; Eze 18:12; Eze 18:16; Eze 18:18; Eze 33:15; Mt 25:35)8does not lend at interest or take any profit,[2] withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, (Ex 22:25; De 1:16; Ps 15:5; Eze 18:13; Eze 18:17; Eze 22:12; Zec 8:16)9walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God. (Eze 18:17; Eze 18:19; Eze 18:21; Eze 20:11; Am 5:4)10“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things (Eze 16:38)11(though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife, (Le 18:20; Eze 18:6)12oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, (Eze 8:6; Eze 8:17; Eze 18:6; Eze 18:7)13lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself. (Le 20:9; Le 20:11; Eze 3:18; Eze 18:8; Eze 33:4)14“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:15he 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,16does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, (Eze 18:7; Eze 18:12)17withholds his hand from iniquity,[3] takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live. (Eze 18:9)18As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity. (Eze 3:18)19“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. (Ex 20:5; Eze 18:2; Eze 18:5; Eze 18:9; Eze 18:21; Eze 18:27)20The soul who 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. (2Ki 14:6; Isa 3:10; Eze 18:4; Ro 2:9)21“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (Eze 18:5; Eze 18:9; Eze 18:19; Eze 18:27)22None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. (Eze 33:16)23Have 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? (Eze 18:32; Eze 33:11; 1Ti 2:4; 1Ti 2:6; Tit 2:11; 2Pe 3:9)24But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. (Eze 3:20; Eze 14:13; Eze 33:12; Eze 33:18; 2Pe 2:20)25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? (Eze 33:17; Eze 33:20)26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. (Eze 18:24)27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. (Eze 13:22; Eze 18:21; Eze 33:11; Eze 33:19)28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.[4] (Isa 3:8; Eze 7:3; Eze 7:8; Eze 14:6; Eze 33:20; Eze 36:19; Eze 39:24; Ho 14:1)31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? (Eze 11:19; Eze 20:7; Eze 33:11)32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Eze 18:23; Eze 18:30)