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The Blue Letter Bible

Ezekiel 18 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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The Justice of a Righteous God
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:1 - Then another message came to me from the LORD:
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:2 - “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’?
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:3 - As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:4 - For 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:5 - “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:6 - He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols[fn] or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:7 - He 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:8 - He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:9 - and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:10 - “But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:11 - And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:12 - oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:13 - and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:14 - “But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:15 - This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:16 - He 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:17 - He helps the poor,[fn] 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:18 - But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:19 - “‘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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:20 - The 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:21 - But 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:22 - All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:23 - “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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:24 - However, 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:25 - “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?
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:26 - When 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:27 - And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:28 - They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:29 - And 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:30 - “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!
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:31 - Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?
Unchecked Copy BoxEze 18:32 - I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!
NLT Footnotes
The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 18:12, 15.
Greek version reads He refuses to do evil.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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Ezekiel Chapter 18 — Additional Translations: