Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 2 “aWhat do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,
‘bThe fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth 1are set on edge’?
3 As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 Behold, aall 1souls are Mine; the 2soul of the father as well as the 2soul of the son is Mine. The 3soul who bsins will die. 5 “But if a man is righteous and does justice and righteousness, 6 and does not aeat at the mountain shrines or blift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or cdefile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 if a man does not mistreat anyone, but areturns to the debtor his pledge, bdoes not commit robbery, but cgives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on ainterest or take bincrease, if he turns his hand from injustice and cdoes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in aMy statutes and My judgments and is careful to do the truth—bhe is righteous and will surely clive,” declares Lord Yahweh. 10 “Then he may 1have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother 11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines and adefiles his neighbor’s wife; 12 he mistreats the aafflicted and needy, bcommits robbery, does not return a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and cdoes abominations; 13 he alends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has done all these abominations; he will surely be put to death; his bblood will be on himself. 14 “Now behold, he 1has a son who has seen all his father’s sins which he has done. And he asaw this but does not do likewise. 15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife 16 or mistreat anyone, or retain a pledge or commit robbery, but he agives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing; 17 he turns his hand away from 1the afflicted, does not take interest or increase, but does My judgments and walks in My statutes; ahe will not die for his father’s iniquity; he will surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity. 19 “Yet you say, ‘aWhy should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ But the son has done bjustice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them. He shall surely live. 20 The soul who asins will die. The bson will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the iniquity of the son; the crighteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. 21 “But if the awicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 aAll his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his brighteousness which he has done, he will live. 23 aDo I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares Lord Yahweh, “is it not that he should bturn from his ways and live? 24 “But when a righteous man aturns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? bAll his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his cunfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25 Yet you say, ‘aThe way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is bMy way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has done he will die. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away afrom his wickedness which he has done and does justice and righteousness, he will preserve his life. 28 Again, he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had done; he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his way,” declares Lord Yahweh. “1aTurn back and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31 aCast away from yourselves all your transgressions which you have committed and 1make yourselves a bnew heart and a new spirit! Now why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have ano pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Therefore, 1turn back and live.”