Ezekiel 18 : 1 (HCSB)
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 18 : 2 (HCSB)
"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
Ezekiel 18 : 3 (HCSB)
As I live"-- *this is the declaration of the Lord God-- "you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.
Ezekiel 18 : 4 (HCSB)
Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son-- both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
Ezekiel 18 : 5 (HCSB)
"Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
Ezekiel 18 : 6 (HCSB)
He does not eat at the mountain *shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or come near a woman during her menstrual impurity.
Ezekiel 18 : 7 (HCSB)
He doesn't oppress anyone but returns his collateral to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Ezekiel 18 : 8 (HCSB)
He doesn't lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men.
Ezekiel 18 : 9 (HCSB)
He follows My statutes and keeps My ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live." *This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Ezekiel 18 : 10 (HCSB)
"Now suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood and does any of these *things ,
Ezekiel 18 : 11 (HCSB)
though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain *shrines and defiles his neighbor's wife,
Ezekiel 18 : 12 (HCSB)
and *when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he raises his eyes to the idols, commits abominations,
Ezekiel 18 : 13 (HCSB)
and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will certainly die. His blood will be on him.
Ezekiel 18 : 14 (HCSB)
"Now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do likewise.
Ezekiel 18 : 15 (HCSB)
He does not eat at the mountain *shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.
Ezekiel 18 : 16 (HCSB)
He doesn't oppress anyone, hold collateral, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Ezekiel 18 : 17 (HCSB)
He keeps his hand from *harming the poor, not taking interest or profit on a loan . He practices My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a person will not die for his father's iniquity. He will certainly live.
Ezekiel 18 : 18 (HCSB)
"As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed *his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
Ezekiel 18 : 19 (HCSB)
But you may ask: Why doesn't the son suffer punishment for the father's iniquity? Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statues, he will certainly live.
Ezekiel 18 : 20 (HCSB)
The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won't suffer punishment for the father's iniquity, and a father won't suffer punishment for the son's iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.
Ezekiel 18 : 21 (HCSB)
"Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.
Ezekiel 18 : 22 (HCSB)
None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.
Ezekiel 18 : 23 (HCSB)
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?" *This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Instead, don't I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
Ezekiel 18 : 24 (HCSB)
But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.
Ezekiel 18 : 25 (HCSB)
"But you say: The Lord's way isn't fair. Now listen, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?
Ezekiel 18 : 26 (HCSB)
When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has practiced.
Ezekiel 18 : 27 (HCSB)
But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
Ezekiel 18 : 28 (HCSB)
He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die.
Ezekiel 18 : 29 (HCSB)
But the house of Israel says: The Lord's way isn't fair. Is it My ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?
Ezekiel 18 : 30 (HCSB)
"Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways." *This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment.
Ezekiel 18 : 31 (HCSB)
Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?
Ezekiel 18 : 32 (HCSB)
For I take no pleasure in anyone's death." *This is the declaration of the Lord God. "So repent and live!
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