English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1The word of the LORD came to me:

1Then another message came to me from the LORD:

2“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

2“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’?

3As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.

3As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.

4Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

4For 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.

5“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—

5“Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.

6if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,

6He 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.

7does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,

7He 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.

8does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man,

8He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,

9walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD.

9and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.

10“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things

10“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.

11(though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife,

11And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,

12oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,

12oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,

13lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.

13and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

14“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:

14“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.

15he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife,

15This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.

16does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,

16He 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.

17withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live.

17He 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.

18As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

18But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.

19“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.

19“‘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.

20The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

20The 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.

21“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

21But 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.

22None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.

22All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

23Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

23“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.

24But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

24However, 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.

25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

25“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?

26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.

26When 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.

27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.

27And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.

28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

28They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.

29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

29And 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.

30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.

30“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!

31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?

31Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?

32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

32I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.