Ezekiel 18

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

Once more, I felt the divine whisper of the LORD, speaking to me, saying,

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?

Why do you keep saying this old saying about Israel, that when parents make mistakes, their children pay the price?

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

Truly, declares the Lord, you will no longer need this saying in Israel.

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.

Every soul belongs to me, both parent and child alike. The one who sins is the one who will die.

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

If a man is fair and follows what is right and just, he is truly virtuous.

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,

He has not indulged in mountain feasts, nor has he been swayed by Israel's idols. He has respected his neighbor's marriage and kept his distance from a woman in her monthly cycle.

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;

He never wronged anyone, but always helped those in debt. He never used force for personal gain, but shared his food with the hungry and gave clothes to those without.

He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

He who hasn't exploited others through unfair lending, nor sought unjust gain, who has refrained from wrongdoing and has fairly resolved disputes between people,

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

The one who follows my rules and respects my decisions, acting with honesty, is fair. They will surely live, says the Lord God.

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

If a man's son becomes a thief, a violent man, or commits any such sins,

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

Anyone who neglects their responsibilities, indulges in forbidden pleasures on the hills, and betrays their friend by being unfaithful with his wife,

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,

He who mistreats the poor and needy, who uses force for personal gain, who keeps what a debtor gave him as security, and who worships false idols, commits a terrible sin.

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.

Has he exploited others with high interest rates and unjust gains? Will he live? No, he won't. He's committed all these terrible acts; he will surely die, and his blood will be on his own head.

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,

If a man has a son who sees all his father's wrongdoings, understands them, but chooses not to repeat them,

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,

He who has not eaten at the idol shrines on the mountains, nor has been seduced by the false idols of Israel, and has respected the sanctity of his neighbor's marriage,

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,

He has never wronged anyone, never kept what a debtor gave him as security, nor caused harm through force. Instead, he shared his food with those in need and clothed those without.

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.

The one who has kept his hand from harming the poor, who has not profited unfairly, who has followed my laws and lived by my rules; he will not die for his father's sins, he will surely live.

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.

His father, who ruthlessly tormented and violently wronged his own brother, and committed evil acts among his people, will surely face death as a consequence of his sins.

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.

Yet you ask, "Why shouldn't the son carry his father's sins?" If the son lives rightly, follows all my teachings and acts accordingly, he will surely live.

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.

The one who sins is the one who will die. Children won't be punished for their parents' sins, nor parents for their children's. Each person will bear the weight of their own actions, good or bad.

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.

If a person who has done wrong chooses to leave their sinful ways behind, follows my teachings, and lives a just and righteous life, they will surely find life and not face death.

All 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 past mistakes will be forgotten; his good deeds will give him life.

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?

Does it bring me joy to see the wicked perish? No, says the Lord. I'd rather they change their ways and choose life.

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.

When a good person abandons their goodness and does all the detestable things the wicked do, will they still live? Their past good deeds will be forgotten. Because of the unfaithfulness and sins they have committed, they will die.

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?

You claim God's ways are unfair. Listen, people of Israel, isn't God's path just? Aren't your paths the ones that are truly uneven?

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.

When a good man abandons his goodness, chooses to do wrong, and dies in his wrongdoings, he will face death because of his own mistakes.

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.

When a bad person abandons his wrongdoings and starts doing what's right and just, he will truly save his own soul.

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

Because he reflects and turns from his past mistakes, he will surely find life, he will not face death.

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?

The people of Israel complain, "God's ways are unfair." But God responds, "Isn't it your ways that are unfair, not mine, O people of Israel?"

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.

I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your ways, declares the Lord. Change your ways, let go of your wrongdoings, so they won't lead to your downfall.

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?

Let go of your wrongdoings, your past mistakes; create a fresh heart and a renewed spirit within you. Why choose death, O people of Israel?

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

God says, "I take no joy in anyone's death. So, change your ways and choose life."