Ezekiel 18

Each Person Answerable for Sin

1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,

2 “What do you mean by using this saying about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’,

3 As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “you will no longer use this saying in Israel.

4 Look, every soul belongs to Me, the soul of the father and the soul of the son both belong to Me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

The Righteous Will Live

5 If a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

6 he does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, he does not defile his neighbor’s wife or go near a woman during her impurity,

7 he does not oppress anyone, gives back what was taken as a pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing,

8 he does not lend money with interest or take profit, he turns his hand away from injustice, carries out true justice between people,

9 and walks in My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances, this man is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord GOD.

The Wicked Son Will Die

10 “But if he fathers a violent son, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things,

11 even though the father did none of them, the son eats at the mountain shrines, defiles his neighbor’s wife,

12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not return what was taken as a pledge, lifts his eyes to idols, commits disgusting acts,

13 lends money with interest and takes profit, will he live, He will not live. He has done all these disgusting things, and he will surely die. His blood will be on his own head.

A Righteous Grandson Will Live

14 “Now suppose that wicked son has a son of his own who sees all the sins his father commits, sees them, but does not do the same.

15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife,

16 does not oppress anyone, does not keep what was taken as a pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with clothing.

17 He keeps his hand from harming the poor, does not take interest or profit, carries out My ordinances, and walks in My statutes, he will not die for his father’s sin. He will surely live.

18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, he will die for his own sin.

God’s Justice Explained

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son bear the punishment for the father’s sin,’ Because the son practiced justice and righteousness and kept all My statutes and carried them out, he will surely live.

20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s sin, and the father will not bear the punishment for the son’s sin. The righteousness of the righteous will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be on him.

21 But if the wicked turns away from all the sins he committed, keeps all My statutes, and practices justice and righteousness, he will surely live; he will not die.

22 None of the offenses he committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteousness he practiced, he will live.

23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD. “Would I not rather that he turn from his ways and live,

A Call to Repent

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice, and does the same disgusting things the wicked does, will he live, None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he committed and the sin he committed, he will die.

25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, house of Israel, is My way not fair, Are not your ways the ones that are unfair,

26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it. He will die because of the injustice he committed.

27 But when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.

28 Because he considered and turned away from all the offenses he committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Are My ways not fair, house of Israel, Are not your ways the unfair ones,

30 Therefore I will judge each one of you according to his ways, house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so sin will not become your downfall.

31 Throw away from you all the offenses you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel,

32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “So repent and live.”