The Book of Ezekiel
18: 1The word of Jehovah came unto me again, saying, 18:2What 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? 18:3As I live, saith the Lord
Jehovah, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
18:4Behold, 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. 18:5But if a man be just, and do that which is
lawful and right, 18:6and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up
his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's
wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her impurity, 18:7and hath not wronged
any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath taken nought by robbery, hath
given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 18:8he
that hath not given forth upon interest, neither hath taken any increase, that hath
withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true justice between man and
man, 18:9hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept mine ordinances, to deal truly;
he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Jehovah. 18:10If he beget a son that is a
robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth any one of these things, 18:11and that
doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled
his neighbor's wife, 18:12hath wronged the poor and needy, hath taken by robbery,
hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath
committed abomination, 18:13hath given forth upon interest, 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. 18:14Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all
his father's sins, which he hath done, and feareth, and doeth not such like; 18:15that
hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of
the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife, 18:16neither hath wronged
any, hath not taken aught to pledge, neither hath taken by robbery, but hath given
his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 18:17that hath
withdrawn his hand from the poor, that hath not received interest nor increase,
hath executed mine ordinances, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for
the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18:18As for his father, because he
cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his
people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity. 18:19Yet say ye, Wherefore 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.
18:20The 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.
18:21But if the wicked 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. 18:22None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered
against him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 18:23Have I any
pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he
should return from his way, and live? 18:24But 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? None of his righteous
deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath
trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 18:25Yet 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? 18:26When the righteous man turneth away from
his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that
he hath done shall he die. 18:27Again, 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. 18:28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his
transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 18:29Yet
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? 18:30Therefore I will judge you, O
house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Jehovah. Return
ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your
ruin. 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed;
and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of
Israel? 18:32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord
Jehovah: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.