1The word of Jehovah came unto me again , saying , 2What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel , saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes , and the children ’s teeth are set on edge ? 3As I live , saith the Lord Jehovah , ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel . 4Behold , all souls are mine; as the soul of the father , so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth , it shall die . 5But if a man be just , and do that which is lawful and right , 6and hath not eaten upon the mountains , neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel , neither hath defiled his neighbor ’s wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her impurity , 7and hath not wronged any , but hath restored to the debtor his pledge , hath taken nought by robbery , hath given his bread to the hungry , and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8he that hath not given forth upon interest , neither hath taken any increase , that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity , hath executed true justice between man and man, 9hath walked in my statutes , and hath kept mine ordinances , to deal truly ; he is just , he shall surely live , saith the Lord Jehovah . 10If he beget a son that is a robber , a shedder of blood , and that doeth any one of these things, 11and that doeth not any of those duties , but even hath eaten upon the mountains , and defiled his neighbor ’s wife, 12hath wronged the poor and needy , hath taken by robbery , hath not restored the pledge , and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols , hath committed abomination , 13hath given forth upon interest , and hath taken increase ; shall he then live ? he shall not live : he hath done all these abominations ; he shall surely die ; his blood shall be upon him . 14Now , lo , if he beget a son , that seeth all his father ’s sins , which he hath done , and feareth, and doeth not such like ; 15that hath not eaten upon the mountains , neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel , hath not defiled his neighbor ’s wife, 16neither hath wronged any , hath not taken aught to pledge , neither hath taken by robbery , but hath given his bread to the hungry , and hath covered the naked with a garment; 17that hath withdrawn his hand from the poor , that hath not received interest nor increase , hath executed mine ordinances , hath walked in my statutes ; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live . 18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed , robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people , behold , he shall die in his iniquity . 19Yet say ye , Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father ? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right , and hath kept all my statutes , and hath done them , he shall surely live . 20The soul that sinneth , it 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 upon him , and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him .
The Righteous and the Wicked
21But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed , and keep all my statutes , and do that which is lawful and right , he shall surely live , he shall not die . 22None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him : in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live . 23Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked ? saith the Lord Jehovah ; and not rather that he should return from his way , and live ? 24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness , and committeth iniquity , and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth , shall he live ? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered : in his trespass that he hath trespassed , and in his sin that he hath sinned , in them shall he die . 25Yet ye say , The way of the Lord is not equal . Hear now , O house of Israel : Is not my way equal ? are not your ways unequal ? 26When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness , and committeth iniquity , and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die . 27Again , when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed , and doeth that which is lawful and right , he shall save his soul alive . 28Because he considereth , and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed , he shall surely live , he shall not die . 29Yet saith the house of Israel , The way of the Lord is not equal . O house of Israel , are not my ways equal ? are not your ways unequal ? 30Therefore I will judge you , O house of Israel , every one according to his ways , saith the Lord Jehovah . Return ye , and turn yourselves from all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your ruin . 31Cast away from you all your transgressions , wherein ye have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a new spirit : for why will ye die , O house of Israel ? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth , saith the Lord Jehovah : wherefore turn yourselves, and live .