Ezekiel 18:1-32

YAHWEH spoke to me again, saying, “Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, but the children are the ones with the sour taste in their mouths? “As I, Lord YAHWEH, live, you will have no reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. Listen, every human life belongs to me; both the parent and the child are mine. The one who sins is held responsible and will die.” “Suppose a man is morally good, and his actions are righteous and honest. He does not take part in the heathen feasts on the mountains nor worship the false gods of the people of Israel. He does not commit adultery nor have sex with a woman during her period. He exploits and defrauds no one. He does not steal but generously feeds the hungry and clothes the needy. He does not lend at interest or take any profit. He refuses to do anything evil and gives honest judgment between one person and another. He keeps my laws and is honest in all that he does. A person like this is righteous, and he will certainly live. I, Lord YAHWEH, have decreed it. “But suppose he has a son who is prone to violence and bloodshed, doing what his father never did. He takes part in the heathen feasts on the mountains, commits adultery, exploits the poor and needy, robs, and defrauds others. He worships the false gods and engages in despicable practices and charges exorbitant interest for profit when lending money—such a person will by no means live. Because he committed all these appalling deeds, he will surely be put to death, and he alone will be responsible for his own death. “But suppose this evil man has a son who sees all the sins his father practiced, yet chooses not to follow his poor example and refuses to take part in the heathen feasts on the mountains or worship the false gods of the people of Israel. He does not seduce another man’s wife, nor exploit nor defraud anyone. He does not steal but feeds the hungry and clothes the needy. He refuses to do anything evil and does not lend for profit or charge exorbitant interest. He faithfully keeps my laws and teachings—such a person will certainly live and not die for his father’s sins. As for his father, because he practiced fraud, cheated, and robbed others, doing what is wrong among his people, he will most certainly die in his guilt. “Yet you ask, ‘Why doesn’t the child bear his father’s guilt?’ If a person lives an honest and upright life and keeps my laws and faithfully follows my teachings, he will most certainly live. It is the one who sins who will die. A child is not to bear his father’s guilt nor a father his child’s guilt. Good people will be credited for their own righteousness and the wicked with his own wickedness.” “However, if the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, obeys my laws, and does what is fair and upright, he will most certainly live and will not die. I will not remember any of the sins he committed in the past. Because he has done what is right, he will most certainly live. I, Lord YAHWEH, say: Do you think I enjoy seeing the wicked die? I would much rather see him renounce his sins and live! “However, if the righteous man abandons his righteous ways and acts wickedly, and follows all the despicable practices of the wicked, should he be allowed to live? None of his righteous deeds will be remembered from then on, for he is guilty of being unfaithful to me, and he will most certainly die. “But you complain, ‘The Lord is being unfair. That’s not right.’ Now people of Israel, listen to me: Do you think my way of doing things is unjust? Aren’t you the ones who are acting unjustly? When the righteous man abandons his righteous ways, does what is evil, and dies, he dies responsible for the wrong that he himself committed. Similarly, when the wicked man abandons his wicked ways to do what is good and right, he saves his own life. Having considered his ways and having chosen to renounce all his former sins, he will most certainly live and not die. And yet the people of Israel say, ‘What the Lord does is not just.’ Really? What I do is not just, people of Israel? Aren’t you the ones who are acting unjustly? So from here on, you people of Israel, I, Lord YAHWEH, say to you: I will judge each of you by what he does. Repent, turn away from all your sins, or your own wickedness will be your downfall. You must get rid of all the guilty sins you have committed and clothe yourselves with a new heart and a new spirit. People of Israel, choose life! I find no pleasure watching anyone die, so repent and live! I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken.”