1 Then the word of the Loʀᴅ came to me, saying, 2 “AIs 3:15What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,

5 “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, 6 and does not AEzek 6:13; 18:15; 22:9eat at the mountain shrines or BDeut 4:19; Ezek 18:12, 15; 20:24; 33:25lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or CEzek 18:15; 22:11defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but ADeut 24:13; Ezek 33:15; Amos 2:8restores to the debtor his pledge, BLev 19:13; Amos 3:10does not commit robbery, but CDeut 15:11; Ezek 18:16; Matt 25:35-40; Luke 3:11gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on AEx 22:25; Deut 23:19, 20interest or take BLev 25:36increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and CZech 7:9; 8:16executes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in ALev 18:5My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—BRom 8:1he is righteous and will surely CAmos 5:4; Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17live,” declares the Lord Goᴅ.

10 “Then he may 1Lit begethave 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 A1 Cor 6:9defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the AAmos 4:1; Zech 7:10poor and needy, BIs 59:6, 7; Jer 22:3, 17; Ezek 7:23; 18:7, 16, 18commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and C2 Kin 21:11; Ezek 8:6, 17commits abomination, 13 he AEx 22:25lends 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 BEzek 33:4, 5blood will be 1Lit on himon his own head.

14 “Now behold, he 1Lit begetshas a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and A2 Chr 29:6-10; 34:21observing 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 oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he AJob 31:16, 20; Ps 41:1; Is 58:7, 10; Ezek 18:7gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17 he keeps his hand from 1So M.T.; Gr reads iniquity as in v 8the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; ARom 2:7he 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, ‘AEx 20:5; Jer 15:4; Ezek 18:2Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced BEzek 18:9; 20:18-20; Zech 1:3-6justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20  “The person who A2 Kin 14:6; 22:18-20; Ezek 18:4sins will die. The BDeut 24:16; Jer 31:30son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the C1 Kin 8:32; Is 3:10, 11; Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6-9righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

21 “But if the AEzek 18:27, 28; 33:12, 19wicked 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  “AIs 43:25; Jer 50:20; Ezek 18:24; 33:16; Mic 7:19All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his BPs 18:20-24righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23  “AEzek 18:32; 33:11Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord Goᴅ, “1Lit is it notrather than that he should BPs 147:11; Mic 7:18turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man A1 Sam 15:11; 2 Chr 24:2, 17-22; Ezek 3:20; 18:26; 33:18turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? BEzek 18:22; Gal 3:3, 4All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his CProv 21:16; Ezek 17:20; 20:27treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25  “Yet you say, ‘AEzek 18:29; 33:17, 20; Mal 2:17; 3:13-15The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is BGen 18:25; Jer 12:1; Zeph 3:5My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26  “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  “Again, when a wicked man turns away AIs 1:18; 55:7from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28  “Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, 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 conduct,” declares the Lord Goᴅ. “AEzek 14:6; 33:11; Hos 12:6Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31  “AIs 1:16, 17; 55:7Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a BPs 51:10; Ezek 11:19; 36:26new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32  “For I have AEzek 18:23; 33:11no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord Goᴅ. “Therefore, repent and live.”