Ezekiel 18

1Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,

2“What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?Cross-references: Isa 3:15 · Jer 15:4 · Jer 31:29 · Lam 5:7 · Ezek 6:2 · Ezek 7:2 · +8 more

3“As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel.Cross-references: Ezek 18:19 · Ezek 18:30 · Ezek 33:11 · Ezek 36:31 · Rom 3:19

4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.Cross-references: Num 16:22 · Num 27:16 · Isa 42:5 · Ezek 18:20 · Zech 12:1 · Rom 6:23 · +3 more

5“But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,Cross-references: Gen 18:19 · Ps 15:2 · Ps 24:4 · Prov 21:3 · Jer 22:15 · Ezek 33:14 · +9 more

6and has not eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife, hasn’t come near a woman in her impurity,Cross-references: Ex 34:15 · Lev 18:19 · Lev 20:10 · Lev 20:18 · Num 25:2 · Deut 4:19 · +17 more

7and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;Cross-references: Gen 6:11 · Ex 22:21 · Ex 22:26 · Ex 23:9 · Lev 19:15 · Lev 25:14 · +50 more

8he who hasn’t lent to them with interest, hasn’t taken any increase from them, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,Cross-references: Ex 22:25 · Lev 19:15 · Lev 19:35 · Lev 25:35 · Deut 1:16 · Deut 16:18 · +17 more

9has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.Cross-references: Lev 18:5 · Deut 4:1 · Deut 5:1 · Deut 6:1 · Deut 10:12 · Deut 11:1 · +24 more

10“If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things,Cross-references: Gen 9:5 · Ex 21:12 · Ex 22:2 · Lev 19:13 · Num 35:31 · Mal 3:8 · +2 more

11or who does not do any of those things but has eaten at the mountain shrines and defiled his neighbor’s wife,Cross-references: 1Ki 13:8 · 1Ki 13:22 · Ezek 18:6 · Ezek 18:15 · Matt 7:21 · Luke 11:28 · +6 more

12has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,Cross-references: Lev 18:22 · Lev 18:26 · 2Ki 21:11 · 2Ki 23:13 · Isa 59:6 · Jer 22:17 · +8 more

13has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor, shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him.Cross-references: Ex 22:25 · Lev 20:9 · Lev 20:11 · Lev 20:27 · Ezek 3:18 · Ezek 18:8 · +6 more

14“Now, behold, if he fathers a son who sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and fears, and doesn’t do likewise,Cross-references: 2Chr 29:3 · 2Chr 34:21 · Ps 119:59 · Prov 17:21 · Prov 23:24 · Isa 44:19 · +13 more

15who hasn’t eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,Cross-references: Ezek 18:6 · Ezek 18:11

16hasn’t wronged any, hasn’t taken anything to pledge, hasn’t taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;Cross-references: Job 22:7 · Job 31:19 · Ps 41:1 · Prov 22:9 · Prov 25:21 · Prov 31:20 · +5 more

17who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who hasn’t received interest or increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live.Cross-references: Lev 18:4 · Lev 18:26 · Lev 18:30 · Job 29:16 · Prov 14:31 · Prov 29:7 · +18 more

18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he will die in his iniquity.Cross-references: Isa 3:11 · Ezek 3:18 · Ezek 18:4 · Ezek 18:20 · Ezek 18:24 · Ezek 18:26 · +2 more

19“Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live.Cross-references: Ex 20:5 · Deut 5:9 · 2Ki 23:26 · 2Ki 24:3 · Jer 15:4 · Lam 5:7 · +6 more

20The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.Cross-references: Lev 5:1 · Lev 5:17 · Lev 10:17 · Lev 16:22 · Lev 19:8 · Num 18:1 · +23 more

21“But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.Cross-references: Gen 26:5 · 2Chr 33:12 · Ps 119:1 · Ps 119:80 · Ps 119:112 · Prov 28:13 · +23 more

22None of his transgressions that he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.Cross-references: 1Ki 17:18 · 2Chr 6:23 · Ps 18:20 · Ps 19:11 · Ps 25:7 · Ps 32:1 · +16 more

23Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?Cross-references: Ex 34:6 · Job 33:27 · Ps 147:11 · Jer 31:20 · Lam 3:33 · Ezek 18:32 · +10 more

24“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.Cross-references: 1Sam 15:11 · 2Chr 24:2 · 2Chr 24:17 · Ps 36:3 · Ps 125:5 · Prov 14:32 · +32 more

25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?Cross-references: Gen 18:25 · Deut 32:4 · Job 32:2 · Job 34:5 · Job 35:2 · Job 40:8 · +20 more

26When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in it, then he dies in his iniquity that he has done.

27Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive.Cross-references: Isa 1:18 · Isa 55:7 · Ezek 18:21 · Ezek 33:5 · Matt 9:13 · Matt 21:28 · +5 more

28Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.Cross-references: Deut 32:29 · 1Sam 7:3 · Ps 119:1 · Ps 119:6 · Ps 119:59 · Jer 31:18 · +9 more

29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?Cross-references: Prov 19:3 · Ezek 18:2 · Ezek 18:25

30“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin.Cross-references: Eccl 3:17 · Eccl 12:14 · Ezek 7:3 · Ezek 7:8 · Ezek 7:27 · Ezek 14:6 · +26 more

31Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, house of Israel?Cross-references: Deut 30:15 · Deut 30:19 · Ps 34:14 · Ps 51:10 · Prov 8:36 · Isa 1:16 · +23 more

32For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!Cross-references: Lam 3:33 · Ezek 18:23 · Ezek 33:11 · 2Pet 3:9