Then the word of the LORD
came
to me, saying
,
" aWhat do you mean by using
this
proverb
concerning
the land
of Israel
, saying
, ` bThe fathers
eat
the sour
grapes
, But the children's
teeth
1are set
on edge
'?
"As I live," declares
the Lord
1GOD
, "you are surely
not going to use
this
proverb
in Israel
anymore
.
"Behold, aall
1souls
are Mine; the 2soul
of the father
as well as the 2soul
of the son
is Mine. The 3soul
who bsins
will die
.
"But if a man
is righteous
and practices
justice
and righteousness
,
and does not aeat at the mountain
shrines or blift
up his eyes
to the idols
of the house
of Israel
, or cdefile
his neighbor's
wife
or approach
a woman
during her menstrual
period
--
if a man does not oppress
anyone, but arestores
to the debtor
his pledge
, bdoes not commit
robbery
, but cgives
his bread
to the hungry
and covers
the naked
with clothing
,
if he does not lend money on ainterest
or take
bincrease
, if he keeps
his hand
from iniquity
and cexecutes
true
justice
between
man
and man
,
if he walks in aMy statutes
and My ordinances
so as to deal
faithfully
-- bhe is righteous
and will surely
clive
," declares
the Lord
GOD
.
"Then he may 1have a violent
son
who sheds
blood
and who does
any
of these
things
to a brother
(though he himself did not do
any
of these
things
), that is, he even
eats
at the mountain
shrines, and adefiles
his neighbor's
wife
,
oppresses the apoor
and needy
, bcommits
robbery
, does not restore
a pledge
, but lifts
up his eyes
to the idols
and ccommits
abomination
,
he alends money on interest
and takes
increase
; will he live
? He will not live
! He has committed
all
these
abominations
, he will surely
be put
to death
; his bblood
will be 1on his own head.
"Now behold, he 1has
a son
who has observed
all
his father's
sins
which
he committed
, and aobserving
does not do
likewise
.
"He does not eat at the mountain
shrines or lift
up his eyes
to the idols
of the house
of Israel
, or defile
his neighbor's
wife
,
or oppress anyone
, or retain
a pledge
, or commit
robbery
, but he agives
his bread
to the hungry
and covers
the naked
with clothing
,
he keeps his hand
from 1the poor
, does not take
interest
or increase
, but executes
My ordinances
, and walks
in My statutes
; ahe will not die
for his father's
iniquity
, he will surely
live
.
"As for his father, because
he practiced
extortion
, robbed
his brother
and did
what
was not good
among
his people
, behold
, he will die
for his iniquity
.
"Yet you say, ` aWhy
should the son
not bear
the punishment
for the father's
iniquity
?' When the son
has practiced
bjustice
and righteousness
and has observed
all
My statutes
and done
them, he shall surely
live
.
"The person who asins
will die
. The bson
will not bear
the punishment
for the father's
iniquity
, nor
will the father
bear
the punishment
for the son's
iniquity
; the crighteousness
of the righteous
will be upon himself, and the wickedness
of the wicked
will be upon himself.
"But if the awicked
man
turns
from all
his sins
which
he has committed
and observes
all
My statutes
and practices
justice
and righteousness
, he shall surely
live
; he shall not die
.
" aAll his transgressions
which
he has committed
will not be remembered
against him; because of his brighteousness
which
he has practiced
, he will live
.
" aDo I have any
pleasure
in the death
of the wicked
," declares
the Lord
GOD
, " 1rather
than
that he should bturn
from his ways
and live
?
"But when a righteous man
aturns
away
from his righteousness
, commits
iniquity
and does
according to all
the abominations
that a wicked
man
does
, will he live
? bAll
his righteous
deeds
which
he has done
will not be remembered
for his ctreachery
which
he has committed
and his sin
which
he has committed
; for them he will die
.
"Yet you say, ` aThe way
of the Lord
is not right
.' Hear
now
, O house
of Israel
! Is bMy way
not right
? Is it not your ways
that are not right
?
"When a righteous man
turns
away
from his righteousness
, commits
iniquity
and dies
because
of it, for his iniquity
which
he has committed
he will die
.
"Again, when a wicked man
turns
away
afrom his wickedness
which
he has committed
and practices
justice
and righteousness
, he will save
his life
.
"Because he considered and turned
away
from all
his transgressions
which
he had committed
, he shall surely
live
; he shall not die
.
"But the house of Israel
says
, `The way
of the Lord
is not right
.' Are My ways
not right
, O house
of Israel
? Is it not your ways
that are not right
?
"Therefore I will judge
you, O house
of Israel
, each
according to his conduct
," declares
the Lord
GOD
. " aRepent
and turn
away
from all
your transgressions
, so that iniquity
may not become
a stumbling
block
to you.
" aCast away
from you all
your transgressions
which
you have committed
and make
yourselves a bnew
heart
and a new
spirit
! For why
will you die
, O house
of Israel
?
"For I have ano
pleasure
in the death
of anyone who dies
," declares
the Lord
GOD
. "Therefore, repent
and live
."