Ezekiel 18

English Standard Version

The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you^[a] mean ^(A)by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ^(B)‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? ³^(C)As I live, declares the Lord God, ^(D)this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. ⁴Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: ^(E)the soul who sins shall die.

⁵“If a man is righteous and does ^(F)what is just and right— ⁶if he ^(G)does not eat upon the mountains or ^(H)lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, ^(I)does not defile his neighbor's wife ^(J)or approach ^(K)a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, ⁷^(L)does not oppress anyone, but ^(M)restores to the debtor his pledge, ^(N)commits no robbery, ^(O)gives his bread to the hungry ^(P)and covers the naked with a garment, ⁸^(Q)does not lend at interest ^(R)or take any profit,^[b] withholds his hand from injustice, ^(S)executes true justice between man and man, ⁹^(T)walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; ^(U)he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.

¹⁰“If he fathers a son who is violent, ^(V)a shedder of blood, who does any of these things ¹¹(though he himself did none of these things), ^(W)who even eats upon the mountains, ^(X)defiles his neighbor's wife, ¹²oppresses the poor and needy, ^(Y)commits robbery, ^(Z)does not restore the pledge, ^(AA)lifts up his eyes to the idols, ^(AB)commits abomination, ¹³^(AC)lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; ^(AD)his blood shall be upon himself.

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: 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, ¹⁶does not oppress anyone, ^(AE)exacts no pledge, ^(AF)commits no robbery, ^(AG)but gives his bread to the hungry ^(AH)and covers the naked with a garment, ¹⁷withholds his hand from iniquity,^[c] takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, ^(AI)and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; ^(AJ)he shall surely live. ¹⁸As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, ^(AK)behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

¹⁹“Yet you say, ^(AL)‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done ^(AM)what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, ^(AN)he shall surely live. ²⁰^(AO)The soul who sins shall die. ^(AP)The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. ^(AQ)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, ^(AR)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

²¹^(AS)“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does ^(AT)what is just and right, ^(AU)he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²²^(AV)None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. ²³^(AW)Have 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? ²⁴^(AX)But 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? ^(AY)None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for ^(AZ)the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

²⁵^(BA)“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? ²⁶^(BB)When 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. ²⁷Again, ^(BC)when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. ²⁸Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall 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?

³⁰“Therefore ^(BD)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. ^(BE)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, ^(BF)lest iniquity be your ruin.^[d] ³¹^(BG)Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and ^(BH)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! ^(BI)Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²^(BJ)For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; ^(BK)so turn, and live.”

Footnotes

Ezekiel 18:2 The Hebrew for you is plural
Ezekiel 18:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor; also verses 13, 17 (compare Leviticus 25:36)
Ezekiel 18:17 Septuagint; Hebrew from the poor
Ezekiel 18:30 Or lest iniquity be your stumbling block

Ezekiel 18

New International Version

The One Who Sins Will Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?^(A)

³“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb^(B) in Israel. ⁴For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins^(C) is the one who will die.^(D)

⁵“Suppose there is a righteous man
    who does what is just and right.
⁶He does not eat at the mountain^(E) shrines
    or look to the idols^(F) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
    or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.^(G)
⁷He does not oppress^(H) anyone,
    but returns what he took in pledge^(I) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery^(J)
    but gives his food to the hungry^(K)
    and provides clothing for the naked.^(L)
⁸He does not lend to them at interest
    or take a profit from them.^(M)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
    and judges fairly^(N) between two parties.
⁹He follows my decrees^(O)
    and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;^(P)
    he will surely live,^(Q)
declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁰“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood^(R) or does any of these other things^[a] ¹¹(though the father has done none of them):

“He eats at the mountain shrines.^(S)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
¹²He oppresses the poor^(T) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.^(U)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.^(V)
¹³He lends at interest and takes a profit.^(W)

Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.^(X)

¹⁴“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:^(Y)

¹⁵“He does not eat at the mountain shrines^(Z)
    or look to the idols^(AA) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
¹⁶He does not oppress anyone
    or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
    but gives his food to the hungry^(AB)
    and provides clothing for the naked.^(AC)
¹⁷He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
    and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws^(AD) and follows my decrees.

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. ¹⁸But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

¹⁹“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.^(AE) ²⁰The one who sins is the one who will die.^(AF) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.^(AG)

²¹“But if^(AH) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees^(AI) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(AJ) ²²None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.^(AK) ²³Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased^(AL) when they turn from their ways and live?^(AM)

²⁴“But if a righteous person turns^(AN) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness^(AO) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.^(AP)

²⁵“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’^(AQ) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?^(AR) Is it not your ways that are unjust? ²⁶If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. ²⁷But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.^(AS) ²⁸Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(AT) ²⁹Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

³⁰“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!^(AU) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^(AV) ³¹Rid^(AW) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart^(AX) and a new spirit. Why^(AY) will you die, people of Israel?^(AZ) ³²For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent^(BA) and live!^(BB)

Footnotes

Ezekiel 18:10 Or things to a brother

Philemon

English Standard Version

Greeting

¹Paul, ^(A)a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and ^(B)Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker ²and Apphia our sister and ^(C)Archippus our ^(D)fellow soldier, and ^(E)the church in your house:

³^(F)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon's Love and Faith

⁴^(G)I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, ⁵because I ^(H)hear of your love and ^(I)of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, ⁶and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full ^(J)knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.^[a] ⁷For I have derived much joy and ^(K)comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints ^(L)have been refreshed through you.

Paul's Plea for Onesimus

⁸Accordingly, ^(M)though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do ^(N)what is required, ⁹yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now ^(O)a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— ¹⁰I appeal to you for ^(P)my child, ^(Q)Onesimus,^[b] ^(R)whose father I became in my imprisonment. ¹¹(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) ¹²I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. ¹³I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me ^(S)on your behalf ^(T)during my imprisonment for the gospel, ¹⁴but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be ^(U)by compulsion but of your own accord. ¹⁵For this perhaps is why ^(V)he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, ¹⁶^(W)no longer as a bondservant^[c] but more than a bondservant, as ^(X)a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, ^(Y)both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷So if you consider me ^(Z)your partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ¹⁹^(AA)I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. ²⁰Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. ^(AB)Refresh my heart in Christ.

²¹^(AC)Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²²At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for ^(AD)I am hoping that ^(AE)through your prayers ^(AF)I will be graciously given to you.

Final Greetings

²³^(AG)Epaphras, my ^(AH)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, ²⁴and so do ^(AI)Mark, ^(AJ)Aristarchus, ^(AK)Demas, and ^(AL)Luke, my fellow workers.

²⁵^(AM)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

Philemon 1:6 Or for Christ's service
Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20)
Philemon 1:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse

Philemon

New International Version

¹Paul, a prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy^(B) our brother,^(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker^(D)— ²also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier^(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:^(G)

³Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴I always thank my God^(I) as I remember you in my prayers,^(J) ⁵because I hear about your love for all his holy people^(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.^(L) ⁶I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,^(M) because you, brother, have refreshed^(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹yet I prefer to appeal to you^(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(P) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰that I appeal to you for my son^(Q) Onesimus,^[b]^(R) who became my son while I was in chains.^(S) ¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹²I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains^(T) for the gospel. ¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(U) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶no longer as a slave,^(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷So if you consider me a partner,^(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.^(Y) ¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.^(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh^(AA) my heart in Christ. ²¹Confident^(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

²²And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be^(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.^(AD)

²³Epaphras,^(AE) my fellow prisoner^(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴And so do Mark,^(AG) Aristarchus,^(AH) Demas^(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.^(AJ)

²⁵The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(AK)

Footnotes

Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Ezekiel 18

English Standard Version

The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

Footnotes

Cross references

Ezekiel 18

New International Version

The One Who Sins Will Die

Footnotes

Cross references

Philemon

English Standard Version

Greeting

Philemon's Love and Faith

Paul's Plea for Onesimus

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Philemon

New International Version

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Ezekiel 18 English Standard Version

The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

Footnotes

Cross references

Ezekiel 18 New International Version

The One Who Sins Will Die

Footnotes

Cross references

Philemon English Standard Version

Greeting

Philemon's Love and Faith

Paul's Plea for Onesimus

Final Greetings

Footnotes

Cross references

Philemon New International Version

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Ezekiel 18

English Standard Version

Ezekiel 18

New International Version

Philemon

English Standard Version

Philemon

New International Version