God Deals Justly with Individuals

18 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, (A)What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,

(B)The fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth [a]are set on edge’?

As I live,” declares the Lord [b]God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. Behold, (C)all [c]souls are Mine; the [d]soul of the father as well as the [e]soul of the son is Mine. The [f]soul who (D)sins will die.

“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, and does not (E)eat at the mountain shrines or (F)lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or (G)defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— if a man does not oppress anyone, but (H)restores to the debtor his pledge, (I)does not commit robbery, but (J)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, if he does not lend money on (K)interest or take (L)increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and (M)executes true justice between man and man, if he walks in (N)My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—(O)he is righteous and will surely (P)live,” declares the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:2 Lit become dull
  2. Ezekiel 18:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 18:4 Or lives
  4. Ezekiel 18:4 Or life
  5. Ezekiel 18:4 Or life
  6. Ezekiel 18:4 Or person

The One Who Sins Will Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: “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)

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb(B) in Israel. For 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)

“Suppose there is a righteous man
    who does what is just and right.
He 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)
He 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)
He 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.
He follows my decrees(O)
    and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;(P)
    he will surely live,(Q)
declares the Sovereign Lord.

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