Ezekiel 18

The Justice of a Righteous God

18Then another message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H5592“Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?H4911H4912H127H3478H559H1H398H1155H1121H8127H69493As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.H2416H5002H136H3069H4911H4912H34784For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.H5315H5315H1H5315H1121H5315H2398H41915“Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.H376H6662H6213H4941H66666He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols

or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.H398H2022H5375H5869H1544H1004H3478H2930H7453H802H7126H5079H8027He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.H3238H376H7725H2326H2258H1497H1500H5414H3899H7457H3680H5903H8998He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,H5414H5392H3947H8636H7725H3027H5766H6213H571H4941H376H3769and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign Lord.H1980H2708H8104H4941H6213H571H6662H2421H2421H5002H136H306910“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.H3205H1121H6530H8210H1818H6213H251H25911And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,H6213H398H2022H2930H7453H80212oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,H3238H6041H34H1497H1500H7725H2258H5375H5869H1544H6213H844113and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.H5414H5392H3947H8636H2425H2421H6213H8441H4191H4191H181814“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.H3205H1121H7200H1H2403H6213H7200H6213H200415This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.H398H2022H5375H5869H1544H1004H3478H2930H7453H80216He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.H3238H376H2254H2258H1497H1500H5414H3899H7457H3680H5903H89917He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live.H7725H3027H6041H3947H5392H8636H6213H4941H1980H2708H4191H5771H1H2421H242118But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.H1H6233H6231H1497H251H1499H6213H2896H8432H5971H4191H577119“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.H559H1121H5375H5771H1H1121H6213H4941H6666H8104H2708H6213H2421H242120The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.H5315H2398H4191H1121H5375H5771H1H1H5375H5771H1121H6666H6662H7564H756321But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.H7563H7725H2403H6213H8104H2708H6213H4941H6666H2421H2421H419122All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.H6588H6213H2142H6666H6213H242123“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.H2654H2654H7563H4194H5002H136H3069H7725H1870H242124However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.H6662H7725H6666H6213H5766H6213H8441H7563H6213H2425H6666H6213H2142H4603H4604H2403H2398H419125“Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you?H559H1870H136H8505H8085H1004H3478H1870H8505H1870H850526When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.H6662H7725H6666H6213H5766H4191H5766H6213H419127And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.H7563H7725H7564H6213H6213H4941H6666H2421H5315H242128They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.H7200H7725H6588H6213H2421H2421H419129And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.H559H1004H3478H1870H136H8505H1004H3478H1870H8505H1870H850530“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you!H8199H1004H3478H376H1870H5002H136H3069H7725H7725H6588H5771H438331Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?H7993H6588H6586H6213H2319H3820H2319H7307H4191H1004H347832I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!H2654H4194H4191H5002H136H3069H7725H2421