CHAPTER 18
“What
do you people
mean
by quoting this
proverb
about
the land
of Israel:
‘The fathers
eat
sour grapes,
but the children’s
teeth
are set on edge’?
Behold,
every
soul
belongs to Me;
both father
and
son
are
Mine.
The soul
who sins
is the one who
will die.
‘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 returns
his 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 keeps his hand
from iniquity
and executes
TRUE
justice
between
men.
He follows
My statutes
and faithfully
keeps
My ordinances;
he is righteous;
surely
he will live,’
declares
the Lord
GOD.
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
on his own head.
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 iniquity
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
should the son
not
bear
the iniquity
of the 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 the father,
and a father
will not
bear
the iniquity
of the 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 against him.
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.
Would I not prefer
he turn
from his ways
and live?
But when 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?
When 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
your downfall.
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?