18Ezekiel 18

Those Who Sin Will Die

1The Lord said:Select Ezekiel 18:1

2Ezekiel, I hear the people of Israel using the old saying, “Sour grapes eaten by parents leave a sour taste in the mouths of their children.”Select Ezekiel 18:2

3Now tell them that I am the Lord God, and as surely as I live, that saying will no longer be used in Israel.Select Ezekiel 18:3

4The lives of all people belong to me—parents as well as children. However, only those who sin will be put to death.Select Ezekiel 18:4

5Suppose there is a truly good man who always does what is fair and right.Select Ezekiel 18:5

6He refuses to eat meat sacrificed to foreign gods at local shrines or to worship Israel's idols. He doesn't have sex with someone else's wife or with a woman having her monthly period.Select Ezekiel 18:6

7He never cheats or robs anyone and always returns anything taken as security for a loan; he gives food and clothes to the poorSelect Ezekiel 18:7

8and doesn't charge interest when lending money. He refuses to do anything evil; he is fair to everyoneSelect Ezekiel 18:8

9and faithfully obeys my laws and teachings. This man is good, and I promise he will live.Select Ezekiel 18:9

10But suppose this good man has an evil son who is violent and commits sinsSelect Ezekiel 18:10

11his father never did. He eats meat at local shrines, has sex with someone else's wife,Select Ezekiel 18:11

12cheats the poor, and robs people. He keeps what is given to him as security for a loan. He worships idols, does disgusting things,Select Ezekiel 18:12

13and charges high interest when lending money. An evil man like that will certainly not live. He is the one who has done these horrible sins, so it's his own fault that he will be put to death.Select Ezekiel 18:13

14But suppose this evil man has a son who sees his father do these things and refuses to act like him.Select Ezekiel 18:14

15He doesn't eat meat at local shrines or worship Israel's idols, and he doesn't have sex with someone else's wife.Select Ezekiel 18:15

16He never cheats or robs anyone and doesn't even demand security for a loan. He gives food and clothes to the poorSelect Ezekiel 18:16

17and refuses to do anything evil or to charge interest. And he obeys all my laws and teachings. Such a man will live. His own father sinned, but this good man will not be put to death for the sins of his father.Select Ezekiel 18:17

18It is his father who will die for cheating and robbing and doing evil.Select Ezekiel 18:18

19You may wonder why a son isn't punished for the sins of his father. It is because the son does what is right and obeys my laws.Select Ezekiel 18:19

20Only those who sin will be put to death. Children won't suffer for the sins of their parents, and parents won't suffer for the sins of their children. Good people will be rewarded for what they do, and evil people will be punished for what they do.Select Ezekiel 18:20

21Suppose wicked people stop sinning and start obeying my laws and doing right. They won't be put to death.Select Ezekiel 18:21

22All their sins will be forgiven, and they will live because they did right.Select Ezekiel 18:22

23I, the Lord God, don't like to see wicked people die. I had much rather see them turn back from their sins and live.Select Ezekiel 18:23

24But when good people start sinning and doing disgusting things, will they live? No! All their good deeds will be forgotten, and they will be put to death because of their sins.Select Ezekiel 18:24

25You people of Israel accuse me of being unfair! But listen—I'm not unfair; you are!Select Ezekiel 18:25

26If good people start doing evil, they must be put to death, because they have sinned.Select Ezekiel 18:26

27And if wicked people start doing right, they will save themselves from punishment.Select Ezekiel 18:27

28They will think about what they've done and stop sinning, and so they won't be put to death.Select Ezekiel 18:28

29But you still say that I am unfair. You are the ones who have done wrong and are unfair!Select Ezekiel 18:29

30I will judge each of you for what you've done. So stop sinning, or else you will certainly be punished.Select Ezekiel 18:30

31Give up your evil ways and start thinking pure thoughts. And be faithful to me! Do you really want to be put to death for your sins?Select Ezekiel 18:31

32I, the Lord God, don't want to see that happen to anyone. So stop sinning and live!Select Ezekiel 18:32