Ezekiel 18
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Christian Standard BibleNew Living Translation
1The word of the LORD came to me:1Then another message came to me from the LORD:
2"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'?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’?
3As I live"--this is the declaration of the Lord GOD--"you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.3As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.
4Look, 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.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 a man is righteous and 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 the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual impurity.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 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.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 doesn't lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from injustice and carries out true justice between men.8He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,
9He 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.9and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.
10"But suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood and does any of these things,10“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.
11though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and 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,
12and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he looks to the idols, commits detestable acts,12oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,
13and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.13and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.
14"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.14“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.
15He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house 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 doesn't oppress anyone, hold collateral, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.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 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.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.
18"As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and did among his people what was not good.18But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.
19But 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 statutes, he will certainly 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 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.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 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.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 transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.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?" This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. "Instead, don't I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?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.
24But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts 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.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"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?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?
26When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, he will die for this. He will die because of the injustice he has committed.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 from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.27And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.
28He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die.28They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.
29But 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?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, 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 rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you.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!
31Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house 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 anyone's death." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. "So repent and live!32I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Ezekiel 17
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