Ezekiel 18:1-20

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.”