1 T he word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 W hat 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?

“ What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘ The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3 A s I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.

4 B ehold, 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.

Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

5 B ut if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness,

6 a nd 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,

and 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 or approach a woman during her menstrual period—

7 a nd 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;

if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

8 h e that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man,

9 h ath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully— he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God.

10 I f he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

“Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother

11 a nd that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,

(though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,

12 h ath 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,

oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination,

13 h ath 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.

he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

14 N ow, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise.

15 t hat 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,

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 n either 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,

or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

17 t hat 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.

he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live.

18 A s 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.

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 Y et 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.

“Yet you say, ‘ Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.

20 T he 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.

The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

21 B ut 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.

“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

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

All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.

23 H ave 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?

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “ rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 B ut 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.

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

25 Y et 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?

Yet you say, ‘ The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?

26 W hen 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.

When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die.

27 A gain, 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.

Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.

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

Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

29 Y et 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?

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 T herefore 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.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “ Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.

31 C ast 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?

Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?

32 F or I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”