18Ezekiel 18

Individual Responsibility

1The Lord spoke to meSelect Ezekiel 18:1

2and said, “What is this proverb people keep repeating in the land of Israel? ‘The parents ate the sour grapes, But the children got the sour taste.’Select Ezekiel 18:2

3“As surely as I am the living God,” says the Sovereign Lord, “you will not repeat this proverb in Israel any more.Select Ezekiel 18:3

4The life of every person belongs to me, the life of the parent as well as that of the child. The person who sins is the one who will die.Select Ezekiel 18:4

5“Suppose there is a truly good man, righteous and honest.Select Ezekiel 18:5

6He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. He doesn't seduce another man's wife or have intercourse with a woman during her period.Select Ezekiel 18:6

7He doesn't cheat or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security; he feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.Select Ezekiel 18:7

8He doesn't lend money for profit. He refuses to do evil and gives an honest decision in any dispute.Select Ezekiel 18:8

9Such a man obeys my commands and carefully keeps my laws. He is righteous, and he will live,” says the Sovereign Lord.Select Ezekiel 18:9

10“Then suppose this man has a son who robs and kills, who does any of these thingsSelect Ezekiel 18:10

11that the father never did. He eats sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines and seduces other men's wives.Select Ezekiel 18:11

12He cheats the poor, he robs, he keeps what a borrower gives him as security. He goes to pagan shrines, worships disgusting idols,Select Ezekiel 18:12

13and lends money for profit. Will he live? No, he will not. He has done all these disgusting things, and so he will die. He will be to blame for his own death.Select Ezekiel 18:13

14“Now suppose this second man has a son. He sees all the sins his father practiced, but does not follow his example.Select Ezekiel 18:14

15He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. He doesn't seduce another man's wifeSelect Ezekiel 18:15

16or oppress anyone or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security. He feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.Select Ezekiel 18:16

17He refuses to do evil and doesn't lend money for profit. He keeps my laws and obeys my commands. He will not die because of his father's sins, but he will certainly live.Select Ezekiel 18:17

18His father, on the other hand, cheated and robbed and always did evil to everyone. And so he died because of the sins he himself had committed.Select Ezekiel 18:18

19“But you ask, ‘Why shouldn't the son suffer because of his father's sins?’ The answer is that the son did what was right and good. He kept my laws and followed them carefully, and so he will certainly live.Select Ezekiel 18:19

20It is the one who sins who will die. A son is not to suffer because of his father's sins, nor a father because of the sins of his son. Good people will be rewarded for doing good, and evil people will suffer for the evil they do.Select Ezekiel 18:20

21“If someone evil stops sinning and keeps my laws, if he does what is right and good, he will not die; he will certainly live.Select Ezekiel 18:21

22All his sins will be forgiven, and he will live, because he did what is right.Select Ezekiel 18:22

23Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?” asks the Sovereign Lord. “No, I would rather see them repent and live.Select Ezekiel 18:23

24“But if a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing all the evil, disgusting things that evil people do, will he go on living? No! None of the good he did will be remembered. He will die because of his unfaithfulness and his sins.Select Ezekiel 18:24

25“But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.’ Listen to me, you Israelites. Do you think my way of doing things isn't right? It is your way that isn't right.Select Ezekiel 18:25

26When a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing evil and then dies, he dies because of the evil he has done.Select Ezekiel 18:26

27When someone evil stops sinning and does what is right and good, he saves his life.Select Ezekiel 18:27

28He realizes what he is doing and stops sinning, so he will certainly not die, but go on living.Select Ezekiel 18:28

29And you Israelites say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.’ You think my way isn't right, do you? It is your way that isn't right.Select Ezekiel 18:29

30“Now I, the Sovereign Lord, am telling you Israelites that I will judge each of you by what you have done. Turn away from all the evil you are doing, and don't let your sin destroy you.Select Ezekiel 18:30

31Give up all the evil you have been doing, and get yourselves new minds and hearts. Why do you Israelites want to die?Select Ezekiel 18:31

32I do not want anyone to die,” says the Sovereign Lord. “Turn away from your sins and live.”Select Ezekiel 18:32