A False Proverb Refuted
1 The word of theLordcame to me again, saying,
2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
# ‘Thefathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “AsI live,” says the LordGod, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4 “Behold, all souls areMine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
# The soul who sins shall die.
5 But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
6 If he has not eaten on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
# Nordefiled his neighbor’s wife,
# Nor approacheda woman during her impurity;
7 If he has notoppressed anyone,
# Buthas restored to the debtor hispledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
# Buthasgiven his bread to the hungry
# And covered the naked withclothing;
8 If he has not exactedusury
Nor taken any increase,
Buthas withdrawn his hand from iniquity
# Andexecuted true judgment between man and man;
9 Ifhe has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully—
Heisjust;
# He shall surelylive!”
Says the LordGod.
10 “If he begets a sonwhoisa robber
# Ora shedder of blood,
Whodoes any of thesethings
11 And does none of thoseduties,
But has eaten on the mountains
Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;
12 If he has oppressed the poor and needy,
Robbed by violence,
Not restored the pledge,
Lifted his eyes to the idols,
# Orcommitted abomination;
13 If he has exacted usury
Or taken increase—
Shall he then live?
He shall not live!
If he has done any of these abominations,
He shall surely die;
# His blood shall be upon him.
14 “If,however, he begets a son
Who sees all the sins which his father has done,
And considers but does not do likewise;
15 Whohas not eaten on the mountains,
Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;
16 Has not oppressed anyone,
Nor withheld a pledge,
Nor robbed by violence,
Buthas given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
17 Whohas withdrawn his hand from the poor
Andnot received usury or increase,
But has executed My judgments
And walked in My statutes—
He shall not die for the iniquity of his father;
He shall surely live!
18 “Asforhis father,
Because he cruelly oppressed,
Robbed his brother by violence,
And did whatisnot good among his people,
# Behold,he shall die for his iniquity.
Turn and Live
19 “Yet you say, ‘Whyshould the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul who sins shall die.The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself,and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21 “Butif a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shalllive.
23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the LordGod, “andnot that he should turn from his ways and live?
24 “Butwhen a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wickedmandoes, shall he live?All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say,‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
26 When a righteousmanturns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.
27 Again,when a wickedmanturns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.
28 Because heconsiders and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the LordGod.“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves anew heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
32 ForI have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the LordGod. “Therefore turn andlive!”