Ezekiel, 18

1. The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

1. The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms,

2. What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

2. "Why are you applying this proverb to the land of Israel: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

3. [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel.

3. As I live, word of Yahweh, this proverb will no longer be quoted in Israel.

4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

4. All life is in my hands, the life of the father and the life of the son are mine. The lives of both are in my hands, so the one who sins will die.

5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

5. Imagine a man who is righteous and practices what is just and right.

6. [And] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

6. He does not eat in the mountain shrines, or look towards the filthy idols of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, or have intercourse with a woman during her period;

7. And hath not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

7. he molests no one, pays what he owes, does not steal, gives food to the hungry and clothes to the naked,

8. He [that] hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, [that] hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

8. demands no interest on a loan and doesn't lend for interest, refrains from injustice, practices true justice, man to man,

9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he [is] just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

9. follows my decrees and obeys my laws in acting loyally. Because such a man is truly righteous, he will live, word of Yahweh.

10. If he beget a son [that is] a robber, a shedder of blood, and [that] doeth the like to [any] one of these [things],

10. But perhaps this man has a son who steals and sheds blood, committing crimes which his father never did.

11. And that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

11. Perhaps the son eats at the mountain shrines, defiles the wife of his neighbor,

12. Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

12. oppresses the poor and needy, steals, neglects to pay his debts, looks to the idols, does detestable things,

13. Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

13. demands interest on a loan, even practices usury. Will such a man live? No, he will not! Because he has committed all these abominations he will die: his guilt will fall upon him.

14. Now, lo, [if] he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

14. But imagine that such a man has in turn a son who does not commit the sins he has seen his father do.

15. [That] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

15. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife,

16. Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, [but] hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

16. or oppress anyone or ask for a pledge on a loan; does not steal; and gives food to the hungry and clothing to the naked,

17. [That] hath taken off his hand from the poor, [that] hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

17. turns from injustice, exacts no usury or excessive interest, observing my decrees and practicing my laws: such a man shall not die because of his father's sins; no, he will live!

18. [As for] his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did [that] which [is] not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

18. His father instead, who practiced extortion and stole from others, will die for his sin, because he did wrong among his people.

19. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

19. You may say, 'Why does the son not bear the guilt of his father?' But the son did what was just and right, observing and practicing my decrees; he will live!

20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

20. The person who sins is the one who will die. The son will not be held responsible for the sin of his father and the father will not be responsible for the sin of his son. The righteous deeds of the righteous will be to his credit and the sin of the wicked will be charged against him.

21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

21. If the sinner turns from his sin, observes my decrees and practices what is right and just, he will live, he will not die.

22. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

22. None of the sins he committed will be charged against him; he will live as a consequence of his righteous deeds.

23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?

23. Do I want the death of the sinner? - word of Yahweh. Do I not rather want him to turn from his ways and live?

24. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

24. But if the righteous man turns away from what is good and commits sins as the wicked do, will he live? His righteous deeds will no longer be credited to him, but he will die because of his infidelity and his sins.

25. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

25. But you say: Yahweh's way is not just! Why, Israel! Is my position wrong? Is it not rather that yours is wrong?

26. When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

26. If the righteous man dies after turning from his righteous deeds and sinning, he dies because of his sins.

27. Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

27. And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life.

28. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

28. He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes and turned from the sins he had committed.

29. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

29. But you, Israel, say: Yahweh's way is not just! Is my position not just? Is it not rather yours that is wrong?

30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

30. That is why I will judge you, Israel, each one according to his ways, word of Yahweh. Come back, turn away from your offenses, that you may not deserve punishment.

31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

31. Free yourselves from all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, Israel?

32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.

32. I do not want the death of anyone, word of Yahweh, but that you be converted and live!"