18Ezekiel 18

1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,Select Ezekiel 18:1

2What mean you, 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?Select Ezekiel 18:2

3As I live, says the Lord GOD, you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.Select Ezekiel 18:3

4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:4

5But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,Select Ezekiel 18:5

6And has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a menstruous woman,Select Ezekiel 18:6

7And has not oppressed any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has spoiled none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;Select Ezekiel 18:7

8He that has not given forth on usury, neither has taken any increase, that has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man,Select Ezekiel 18:8

9Has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:9

10If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that does the like to any one of these things,Select Ezekiel 18:10

11And that does not any of those duties, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor’s wife,Select Ezekiel 18:11

12Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,Select Ezekiel 18:12

13Has given forth on usury, and has taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:13

14Now, see, if he beget a son, that sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and considers, and does not such like,Select Ezekiel 18:14

15That has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor’s wife,Select Ezekiel 18:15

16Neither has oppressed any, has not withheld the pledge, neither has spoiled by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment,Select Ezekiel 18:16

17That has taken off his hand from the poor, that has not received usury nor increase, has executed my judgments, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.Select Ezekiel 18:17

18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, see, even he shall die in his iniquity. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:18

19Yet say you, Why? does not 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 shall surely live.Select Ezekiel 18:19

20The soul that sins, 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 on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.Select Ezekiel 18:20

21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.Select Ezekiel 18:21

22All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned to him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.Select Ezekiel 18:22

23Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? ¶Select Ezekiel 18:23

24But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:24

25Yet you 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?Select Ezekiel 18:25

26When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in them; for his iniquity that he has done shall he die.Select Ezekiel 18:26

27Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.Select Ezekiel 18:27

28Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.Select Ezekiel 18:28

29Yet says 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?Select Ezekiel 18:29

30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. ¶Select Ezekiel 18:30

31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel?Select Ezekiel 18:31

32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord GOD: why turn yourselves, and live you.Select Ezekiel 18:32