Ezekiel:18:1-30

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* The word of the LORD came to me again : * "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 '? * As I live , says the Lord GOD , this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel . * Behold , all souls are mine ; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine : the soul that sins shall die . * "If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right -- * if 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 impurity , * does not oppress any one , but restores to the debtor his pledge , commits no robbery , gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment , * does not lend at interest or take any increase , withholds his hand from iniquity , executes true justice between man and man , * walks in my statutes , and is careful to observe my ordinances--he is righteous , he shall surely live , says the Lord GOD . * "If he begets a son who is a robber , a shedder of blood , * who does none of these duties , but eats upon the mountains , defiles his neighbor 's wife , * oppresses the poor and needy , commits robbery , does not restore the pledge , lifts up his eyes to the idols , commits abomination , * lends at interest , and takes increase ; shall he then live ? He shall not live . He has done all these abominable things ; he shall surely die ; his blood shall be upon himself . * "But if this man begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done , and fears , and does not do likewise , * who 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 , * does not wrong any one , exacts no pledge , commits no robbery , but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment , * withholds his hand from iniquity , takes no interest or increase , observes my ordinances , and walks in my statutes ; he shall not die for his father 's iniquity ; he shall surely live . * As 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 . * "Yet you say , `Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father ?' When the son has done what is lawful and right , and has been careful to observe all my statutes , he shall surely live . * The soul that 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 . * "But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right , he shall surely live ; he shall not die . * None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him ; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live . * Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked , says the Lord GOD , and not rather that he should turn from his way and live ? * But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does , shall he live ? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered ; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed , he shall die . * "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 ? * When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity , he shall die for it ; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die . * Again , when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right , he shall save his life . * Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed , he shall surely live , he shall not die . * Yet 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 ? * "Therefore I will judge you , O house of Israel , every one according to his ways , says the Lord GOD . Repent and turn from all your transgressions , lest iniquity be your ruin .

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