Ezekiel 18
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1The word of the LORD came to me:1Then another message came to me from the LORD:
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'?2“Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?
3"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.3As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.
4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child--both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.4For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.
5"Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.5“Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.
6He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.6He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.
7He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.7He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
8He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.8He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,
9He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.9and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.
10"Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things10“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.
11(though the father has done none of them): "He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife.11And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,
12He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.12oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,
13He lends at interest and takes a profit. 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.13and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.
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:14“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.
15"He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.15This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.
16He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.16He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
17He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.17He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live.
18But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.18But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly 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.19“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.
20The one who sins is the one who will die. 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.20The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
21"But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.21But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.
22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.22All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?23“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
24"But if a righteous person turns 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 they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.24However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.
25"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?25“Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you?
26If 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.26When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.
27But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.27And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.
28Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.28They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.
29Yet 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?29And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.
30"Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.30“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you!
31Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?31Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?
32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!32I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!
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Ezekiel 17
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