Ezekiel 18 :: New International Version (NIV)

The One Who Sins Will Die

Eze 18:1The word of the LORD came to me:

Eze 18:2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “ ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

Eze 18:3

Eze 18:3“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

Eze 18:4

Eze 18:4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.

Eze 18:5

Eze 18:5“Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.

Eze 18:6

Eze 18:6He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.

Eze 18:7

Eze 18:7He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.

Eze 18:8

Eze 18:8He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.

Eze 18:9

Eze 18:9He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live,

declares the Sovereign LORD.

Eze 18:10

Eze 18:10“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things[fn]

Eze 18:11

Eze 18:11(though the father has done none of them): “He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor’s wife.

Eze 18:12

Eze 18:12He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.

Eze 18:13

Eze 18:13He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

Eze 18:14

Eze 18:14“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:

Eze 18:15

Eze 18:15“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.

Eze 18:16

Eze 18:16He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.

Eze 18:17

Eze 18:17He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live.

Eze 18:18

Eze 18:18But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

Eze 18:19

Eze 18:19“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.

Eze 18:20

Eze 18:20The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.

Eze 18:21

Eze 18:21“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.

Eze 18:22

Eze 18:22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.

Eze 18:23

Eze 18:23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Eze 18:24

Eze 18:24“But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.

Eze 18:25

Eze 18:25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Eze 18:26

Eze 18:26If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die.

Eze 18:27

Eze 18:27But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.

Eze 18:28

Eze 18:28Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.

Eze 18:29

Eze 18:29Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Eze 18:30

Eze 18:30“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.

Eze 18:31

Eze 18:31Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?

Eze 18:32

Eze 18:32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

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NIV Footnotes

(18:10)

Or things to a brother

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