Ezekiel 18

1 The word of יהוה came unto me again, saying,

2 “What mean you, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Yisrael, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3 “As I live,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Yisrael.

4 Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine; the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Yisrael, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

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

8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

9 Hath walked in My statutes, and hath kept My judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live!” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה.

10 If he begets a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,

12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live; he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

14 Now, behold, if he begets a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Yisrael, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,

16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

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

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

19 Yet say you, ‘Why? doth not the son bears the iniquity of the father?’ When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all My statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, nor shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned; in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

25 Yet you say, ‘The way of Lord (Adonai) is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Yisrael; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?

26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

29 Yet saith the house of Yisrael, ‘The way of Lord (Adonai) is not fair.’ O house of Yisrael, are not my ways fair? Are not your ways unfair?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Yisrael, every one according to his ways,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה. “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 Cast 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 Yisrael?

32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה. “Wherefore turn yourselves, and live you!”