18
1 The
LORD’s word came
to me again,
saying,
2 “What
do you mean, that
you 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,” says
the Lord GOD, “you
shall not use
this proverb any
more 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 who sins,
he shall die.
5 “But
if a man
is just,
and does that
which is lawful
and right,
6 and
has not eaten on
the mountains,
hasn’t lifted up
his eyes to
the idols of
the house of
Israel,
hasn’t defiled his
neighbor’s wife,
hasn’t come near
a woman in
her impurity,
7 and
has not wronged
any,
but has restored
to the debtor
his pledge,
has taken nothing
by robbery,
has given his
bread to the
hungry,
and has covered
the naked with
a garment;
8 he
who hasn’t lent to
them with interest,
hasn’t taken any
increase from them,
who has withdrawn
his hand from
iniquity,
has executed true
justice between man
and man,
9 has
walked in my
statutes,
and has kept
my ordinances,
to deal truly;
he is just,
he shall surely
live,” says the
Lord GOD.
10 “If
he fathers a
son who is
a robber who
sheds blood, and
who does any
one of
these things,
11 or
who does not
do any of
those things
but has eaten at
the mountain shrines
and defiled his
neighbor’s wife,
12 has
wronged the poor
and needy,
has taken by
robbery,
has not restored
the pledge,
and has lifted
up his eyes
to the idols,
has committed
abomination,
13 has lent
with interest,
and has taken
increase from
the poor,
shall he then
live? He shall
not live. He
has done all
these abominations.
He shall surely
die. His blood
will be on
him.
14 “Now,
behold, if he
fathers a son
who sees all
his father’s sins
which he has
done, and fears,
and doesn’t do
likewise,
15 who hasn’t
eaten on the
mountains,
hasn’t lifted up
his eyes to
the idols of
the house of
Israel,
hasn’t defiled his
neighbor’s wife,
16 hasn’t
wronged any,
hasn’t taken anything
to pledge,
hasn’t taken by
robbery,
but has given
his bread to
the hungry,
and has covered
the naked with
a garment;
17 who
has withdrawn his
hand from the
poor,
who hasn’t received
interest or
increase,
has executed my
ordinances,
has 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, robbed
his brother, and
did that which
is not good
among his people,
behold, he will
die in his
iniquity.
19 “Yet
you say, ‘Why doesn’t
the son bear
the iniquity of
the father?’ When
the son has
done that which
is lawful and
right, and has
kept all my
statutes, and has
done them, he
will surely live.
20 The
soul who sins,
he 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 on
him, and the
wickedness of the
wicked shall be
on him.
21 “But
if the wicked
turns from all
his sins that
he has committed,
and keeps all
my statutes, and
does that which
is lawful and
right, he shall
surely live. He
shall not die.
22 None
of his
transgressions that
he has committed
will be remembered
against him. In
his righteousness
that he has
done, he shall
live.
23 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?
24 “But
when the righteous
turns away from
his righteousness,
and commits
iniquity, and
does according to
all the
abominations that
the wicked man
does, should he
live? None of
his righteous
deeds that he
has done will
be remembered. In
his trespass that
he has trespassed,
and in his
sin that he
has sinned, in
them he shall
die.
25 “Yet
you say, ‘The
way of the Lord
is not equal.’
Hear now, house
of Israel: Is
my way not
equal? Aren’t your
ways unequal?
26 When
the righteous man
turns away from
his righteousness,
and commits
iniquity, and dies
in it, then
he dies in
his iniquity that
he has done.
27 Again,
when the wicked
man turns away
from his
wickedness that he
has committed, and
does that which
is lawful and
right, he will
save his soul
alive.
28 Because
he considers, and
turns away from
all his
transgressions that
he has committed,
he shall surely
live. He shall
not die.
29 Yet
the house of
Israel says, ‘The
way of the Lord
is not fair.’
House of Israel,
aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t
your ways unfair?
30 “Therefore
I will judge
you, house of
Israel, everyone according
to his ways,”
says the Lord
GOD. “Return, and
turn yourselves
from all your
transgressions, so
iniquity will not
be your ruin.
31 Cast
away from you
all your
transgressions in
which you have
transgressed; and
make yourself a
new heart and
a new spirit.
For why will
you die, house
of Israel?
32 For
I have no
pleasure in the
death of him
who dies,” says
the Lord GOD. “Therefore
turn yourselves, and
live!