Ezekiel 18

Ezekiel 18:2

“What do you people mean 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’?

Ezekiel 18:2 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:3

As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

Ezekiel 18:3 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:4

Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Ezekiel 18:4 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:5

Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

Ezekiel 18:5 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:6

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.

Ezekiel 18:6 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:7

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.

Ezekiel 18:7 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:8

He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.

Ezekiel 18:8 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:9

He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 18:9 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:10

Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things,

Ezekiel 18:10 · BSB

the like to any one of these things or , to his brother besides any of these

Ezekiel 18:11

though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.

Ezekiel 18:11 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:12

He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.

Ezekiel 18:12 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:13

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 on his own head.

Ezekiel 18:13 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:14

Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:

Ezekiel 18:14 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:15

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.

Ezekiel 18:15 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:16

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.

Ezekiel 18:16 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:17

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.

Ezekiel 18:17 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:18

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.

Ezekiel 18:18 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:19

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.

Ezekiel 18:19 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:20

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.

Ezekiel 18:20 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:21

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.

Ezekiel 18:21 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:22

None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.

Ezekiel 18:22 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:23

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?

Ezekiel 18:23 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:24

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.

Ezekiel 18:24 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:25

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?

Ezekiel 18:25 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:26

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.

Ezekiel 18:26 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:27

But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

Ezekiel 18:27 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:28

Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

Ezekiel 18:28 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:29

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?

Ezekiel 18:29 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:30

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 your downfall.

Ezekiel 18:30 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:31

Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 18:31 · BSB

Ezekiel 18:32

For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Ezekiel 18:32 · BSB