18 The Lord gave this message to me: 2 ‘You say this proverb about Israel: “The fathers have eaten bitter fruit, but it causes their children's teeth to hurt.” Why do you say that? [ a ] 3 Now I, the Lord God, tell you this: You will no longer say that proverb in Israel! 4 Everyone who lives belong to me. I have authority over the life of the father and over the life of the son. It is the people who do wrong things who will die because of their sins.
5 There may be a truly good man who does what is right and fair. 6 He does not go up the mountains and eat the food of idols. He does not pray to the idols that other Israelites worship. He does not have sex with another man's wife. He does not have sex with a woman when she is unclean. 7 He is not cruel to other people. When he lends money to someone, he gives back anything that he has taken as a guarantee. He does not take things that belong to other people. He gives food to hungry people. He gives clothes to poor people. 8 He does not lend money to someone and then ask to receive more money back. He refuses to do anything that is wrong. He helps people in a way that is right and fair. 9 He faithfully obeys my laws and my rules.
A man like that is righteous. He will continue to live. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
10 But that man may have a son who is cruel and violent. He may kill other people. He may do those bad things that his father never did. 11 He may go up the mountains and eat the food of idols. He might have sex with another man's wife. 12 He might be cruel to people who are poor and weak. He might take things that belong to other people. He might not give back things that he took as a guarantee. He prays to idols. He does disgusting things. 13 When he lends money to people, he wants them to pay back a lot more money to him.
A man like that will not continue to live! He will certainly die, because he himself has done all these disgusting things. He is guilty, so he himself must die as his punishment.
14 But this wicked man might have a son himself. The son sees all the sins that his father has done. He thinks about them. Then he decides that he will not live as his father has lived. 15 He does not go up the mountains to eat the food of idols. He does not pray to the idols that other Israelites worship. He does not have sex with another man's wife. 16 He is not cruel to anyone. He does not keep anything that he has taken from someone as a guarantee. He does not rob other people. But he gives food to hungry people. He gives clothes to poor people. 17 He refuses to do anything that is wrong. When he lends money to people, he does not take more back money back from them. He obeys my rules and my laws.
This man will certainly continue to live. He will not die because of his father's sins. 18 But his father will die as punishment for his own sins. He cheated people. He robbed people. He did evil things among his own people. So he will die because of his own sins.
19 You should not say, “Surely the son should receive punishment because of his father's sins.” If the son does what is good and right, and he obeys my laws and my rules, he will continue to live. 20 It is the person who does wrong things who will die. A son will not receive punishment because of his father's sins. And a father will not receive punishment because of his son's sins. Righteous people will receive the good things that they deserve for the good things that they have done. But wicked people will receive the punishment that they deserve for the wicked things that they have done.
21 But a wicked person might turn away from the sins that he has been doing. He might decide to obey my laws and do things that are right and good. If he does that, he will certainly continue to live. He will not die as his punishment. 22 I would no longer say that he is guilty because of the sins that he has done. Instead, he will continue to live, because he has done things that are right. 23 It does not make me happy when a wicked person dies. I want wicked people to stop doing wicked things. Then I am happy because they will continue to live. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
24 A righteous person may stop doing things that are good and right. He may start to do the same disgusting things that wicked people do. Then he will not continue to live. I will not remember any of the good things that he did. Instead, I will punish him because of the sins that he has done. He has not been faithful to me, so he will die.
25 But you say, “The Lord is not doing what is right!” So listen to me, Israel's people. It is you who are not doing what is right! It is not me! 26 If a righteous person stops doing good things and he does bad things instead, he will die. Yes, he will die because of the wrong things that he has done. 27 And if a wicked person stops doing wicked things and he does things that are right, he will continue to live. 28 That wicked person realized that he was doing bad things. So he turned away from his sins. Because of that he will certainly continue to live. He will not die. 29 But you, Israel's people, say, “The Lord is not doing what is right!” Do you really think that is true? No, you are the people who do not do what is right, you Israelites!
30 The Almighty Lord says this to you, Israel's people: I will judge each of you as you deserve for the way that you live. So change how you live! Turn away from all the wicked things that you do. Then your sins will not finally destroy you. 31 Stop doing all the sins that you have been doing. Instead, think with new thoughts. Live with a new spirit inside you. [ b ] You do not need to die, Israel's people! 32 It does not make me happy when anyone has to die. Turn away from your sins so that you continue to live! That is what the Almighty Lord says.’
18 The word of the Lord came to me. He said, 2 “Why do you people say this proverb:
‘The parents ate the sour grapes,
but the children got the sour taste’ [ a ] ?”
3 But the Lord God says, “By my life, I swear that people in Israel will not think this proverb is true anymore! 4 I will treat everyone, child and parent, just the same. The one who sins is the one who will die!
5 “A person who is good will live! He is fair and does what is right. 6 He doesn’t go to the mountains to share food offered to idols. He doesn’t pray to those filthy idols in Israel. He doesn’t commit adultery with his neighbor’s wife or with a woman during her period. 7 He doesn’t take advantage of others. If someone borrows money from him, he might take something of value before he gives the money. But when that person pays him back, he returns what he took. He gives food to the hungry and clothes to people who need them. 8 If someone wants to borrow money from him, he lends the money and doesn’t charge interest on the loan. He refuses to be crooked. He is always fair with everyone. People can trust him. 9 He obeys my laws and studies my rules so that he can learn to be fair and dependable. He is good, so he will live.” This is what the Lord God said.
10 “But someone like that might have a son who does not do any of these good things. The son steals things and kills people. 11 He does things his father never did. He goes to the mountains and eats foods offered to false gods. He commits the sin of adultery with his neighbor’s wife. 12 He mistreats poor, helpless people. He takes advantage of them. When a debt is paid, [ b ] he does not give back what he took from them. He prays to filthy idols and does other terrible things. 13 He lends money to people who need it, but he forces them to pay interest on the loan. The evil son will not be allowed to live. He will be put to death because he did such terrible things, and he will be responsible for his own death.
14 “Now, that evil son might also have a son. But this son sees the bad things his father did, and he refuses to live as his father did. He treats people fairly. 15 He does not go to the mountains and eat foods offered to false gods. He does not pray to filthy idols in Israel. He does not commit the sin of adultery with his neighbor’s wife. 16 He does not take advantage of people. If someone borrows money from him, the good son takes something of value and then gives the other person the money. When that person pays him back, the good son gives back what he took. The good son gives food to hungry people, and he gives clothes to those who need them. 17 He helps the poor. If people want to borrow money, the good son lends them the money, and he does not charge interest on the loan. He obeys my laws and follows them. He will not be put to death for his father’s sins. The good son will live. 18 The father hurts people and steals things. He never does anything good for my people! He will die because of his own sins.
19 “You might ask, ‘Why will the son not be punished for his father’s sins?’ The reason is that the son was fair and did good things. He very carefully obeyed my laws, so he will live. 20 The one who sins is the one who will be put to death. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. A good man’s goodness belongs to him alone, and a bad man’s evil belongs to him alone.
21 “Now, if evil people change their lives, they will live and not die. They might stop doing all the bad things they did and begin to carefully obey all my laws. They might become fair and good. 22 God will not remember all the bad things they did. He will remember only their goodness, so they will live!”
23 The Lord God says, “I don’t want evil people to die. I want them to change their lives so that they can live!
24 “Now, maybe good people might stop being good. They might change their lives and begin to do all the terrible things that evil people have done in the past. (The evil people changed, so they can live.) So if those good people change and become bad, God will not remember all the good things they did. He will remember that they turned against him and began to sin. So they will die because of their sin.
25 “You people might say, ‘The Lord isn’t fair!’ But listen, family of Israel. I am fair. You are the ones who are not fair! 26 If good people change and become evil, they must die for the bad things they do. 27 And if evil people change and become good and fair, they will save their lives. They will live! 28 They saw how wicked they were and came back to me. They stopped doing the evil things they did in the past. So they will live! They will not die!”
29 The people of Israel said, “That’s not fair! The Lord isn’t fair!”
“I am fair! You are the ones who are not fair! 30 Why? Because, family of Israel, I will judge each of you only for what you do!” This is what the Lord God said. “So come back to me! Stop committing those crimes and do away with those things that cause you to sin! 31 Throw away all the terrible idols with which you committed your crimes! Change your heart and spirit. People of Israel, why should you do things that will cost you your life? 32 I don’t want to kill you! Please come back and live!” This is what the Lord God said.
18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord God , ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
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 Israel, 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 the Lord God .
10 If he beget 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, lo, if he beget 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 Israel, 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, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear 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, neither 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 the Lord God : 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 ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; 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 Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God . Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God : wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
18 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “ ( A ) What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying,
3 As I live,” declares the Lord [ b ] God , “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 Behold, ( C ) all [ c ] souls are Mine; the [ d ] soul of the father as well as the [ e ] soul of the son is Mine. The [ f ] soul who ( D ) sins will die.
5 “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, 6 if he does not ( E ) eat at the mountain shrines or ( F ) raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or ( G ) defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 and if a man does not oppress anyone, but ( H ) restores to the debtor his pledge, ( I ) does not commit robbery, but ( J ) gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 and if he does not [ g ] lend money at ( K ) interest or take [ h ] ( L ) interest, if he keeps his hand from injustice and ( M ) executes true justice between one person and another, 9 if he walks in ( N ) My statutes and keeps My ordinances so as to deal faithfully— ( O ) he is righteous and will certainly ( P ) live,” declares the Lord God .
10 “However, he may father a violent son who sheds blood, and does any one of these things to a brother 11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines , and ( Q ) defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the ( R ) poor and needy, ( S ) commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols and ( T ) commits abomination, 13 ( U ) lends money at interest and takes [ i ] interest; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he shall certainly be put to death; his ( V ) blood will be on himself.
14 “Now behold, he has fathered a son who saw all his father’s sins which he committed, but he has ( W ) seen them and does not do likewise. 15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he has not defiled his neighbor’s wife, 16 nor oppressed anyone, nor retained a pledge, nor committed robbery; instead , he ( X ) gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17 he keeps his hand from [ j ] the poor, does not take any kind of interest on loans, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; ( Y ) he will not die for his father’s guilt, he will certainly live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his guilt.
19 “Yet you say, ‘ ( Z ) Why should the son not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt?’ When the son has practiced ( AA ) justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them, he shall certainly live. 20 The person who ( AB ) sins will die. A ( AC ) son will not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt, nor will a father suffer the punishment for the son’s guilt; the ( AD ) righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21 “But if the ( AE ) wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 22 ( AF ) All his offenses which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his ( AG ) righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23 ( AH ) Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God , “ [ k ] rather than that he would ( AI ) turn from his ways and live?
24 “But when a righteous person ( AJ ) turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? ( AK ) All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his ( AL ) treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25 Yet you say, ‘ ( AM ) The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, house of Israel! Is ( AN ) My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has committed he dies. 27 But when a wicked person turns away ( AO ) from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28 Since he understood and turned away from all his offenses which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 29 But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God . “ ( AP ) Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you. 31 ( AQ ) Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a ( AR ) new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel? 32 For I take ( AS ) no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God . “Therefore, repent and live!”
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? ( A )
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , you will no longer quote this proverb ( B ) in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins ( C ) is the one who will die. ( D )
5 “Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain ( E ) shrines
or look to the idols ( F ) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. ( G )
7 He does not oppress ( H ) anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge ( I ) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery ( J )
but gives his food to the hungry ( K )
and provides clothing for the naked. ( L )
8 He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them. ( M )
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly ( N ) between two parties.
9 He follows my decrees ( O )
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous; ( P )
he will surely live, ( Q )
declares the Sovereign Lord .
10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood ( R ) or does any of these other things [ a ] 11 (though the father has done none of them):
“He eats at the mountain shrines. ( S )
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor ( T ) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge. ( U )
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things. ( V )
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit. ( W )
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head. ( X )
14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things: ( Y )
15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines ( Z )
or look to the idols ( AA ) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16 He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry ( AB )
and provides clothing for the naked. ( AC )
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws ( AD ) and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. ( AE ) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die. ( AF ) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them. ( AG )
21 “But if ( AH ) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees ( AI ) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. ( AJ ) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. ( AK ) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord . Rather, am I not pleased ( AL ) when they turn from their ways and live? ( AM )
24 “But if a righteous person turns ( AN ) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness ( AO ) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die. ( AP )
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ ( AQ ) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? ( AR ) Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. ( AS ) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. ( AT ) 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord . Repent! ( AU ) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. ( AV ) 31 Rid ( AW ) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart ( AX ) and a new spirit. Why ( AY ) will you die, people of Israel? ( AZ ) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord . Repent ( BA ) and live! ( BB )
