Then the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ What do you people by quoting this proverb - - about the land of Israel : ... ‘ The fathers have eaten sour grapes , and the teeth of the children are set on edge ’ ?
As surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , you will no ... longer quote this proverb in Israel.
Behold , every soul both father (and) son are The soul who sins is the one who will die.
Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right :
He does not eat at the mountain (or) look ... to the idols of the house of Israel. - He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.
He does not oppress another , but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery , but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
He does not engage in usury (or) take excess interest , but he withholds his hand from iniquity ... (and) executes true justice between men. ...
He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps ... My ordinances. (That man) is righteous ; surely he will live , declares the Lord GOD.
Now suppose (that man) has a violent son , who sheds blood or does ... any of these (things) ,
though the father - has done ... none ... of them : Indeed , the son eats - at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.
He oppresses the poor and needy ; he commits robbery ... and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols ; he commits abominations.
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will (this son) live ? He will not ... ! - Since he has committed all these abominations , he will surely die ... ; his blood will be
Now suppose (this son) has a son who sees - all the sins his father - has committed , considers them , and does not do likewise
He does not eat at the mountain (or) look ... to the idols of the house of Israel. - He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
He does not oppress another , or retain a pledge , ... or commit robbery. ... He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
He withholds his hand {from harming} the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live ....
As for his father , he will die for his own iniquity , because he practiced extortion , robbed ... his brother , and did what was wrong ... among his people ....
Yet you may ask , ‘ Why shouldn’t the son ... bear the iniquity of his father ? ’ Since the son has done - what is just and right , carefully observing - all My statutes , he will surely live ....
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father , and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him , and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins - he has committed , keeps - all My statutes , and does what is just and right , he will surely live ... ; he will not die.
None ... of the transgressions - he has committed will be held Because of the righteousness - he has practiced , he will live.
Do I take any pleasure ... in the death of the wicked ? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live ?
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity , committing the same abominations as the wicked ... , will he live ? ... None of the righteous Acts - - he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness - - and sin - he has committed , he will die
Yet you say , ‘ The way of the Lord is not just. ’ Hear now , O house of Israel : Is it My way that is unjust ... ? Is it not your ways that are unjust ... ?
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity , he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity - he has committed.
But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness - he has committed and does what is just and right , he - will save his life.
Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions - he had committed , he will surely live ... ; he will not die.
Yet the house of Israel says , ‘ The way of the Lord is not just. ’ Are My ways unjust , O house of Israel ? Is it not your ways that are unjust ... ?
Therefore , O house of Israel , I will judge you , each according to his ways , declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions , so that your iniquity will not become downfall.
Cast away from yourselves - all the transgressions - you have committed and fashion a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die , O house of Israel ?
For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death ... , declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live ! (’’)