Font Size
Ezekiel 18
World English Bible
Ezekiel 18
World English Bible
18 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.
5 “But if a man is just,
and does that which is lawful and right,
6 and has not eaten on the mountains,
hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,
hasn’t come near a woman in her impurity,
7 and has not wronged any,
but has restored to the debtor his pledge,
has taken nothing by robbery,
has given his bread to the hungry,
and has covered the naked with a garment;
8 he who hasn’t lent to them with interest,
hasn’t taken any increase from them,
who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity,
has executed true justice between man and man,
9 has walked in my statutes,
and has kept my ordinances,
to deal truly;
he is just,
he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.
10 “If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things, 11 or who does not do any of those things,
but even has eaten at the mountain shrines,
and defiled his neighbor’s wife,
12 has wronged the poor and needy,
has taken by robbery,
has not restored the pledge,
and has lifted up his eyes to the idols,
has committed abomination,
13 has lent with interest,
and has taken increase from the poor;
shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him.
14 “Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father’s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like;
15 who hasn’t eaten on the mountains,
hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,
16 hasn’t wronged any,
hasn’t taken anything to pledge,
hasn’t taken by robbery,
but has given his bread to the hungry,
and has covered the naked with a garment;
17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor,
who hasn’t received interest or increase,
has executed my ordinances,
has walked in my statutes;
he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he will die in his iniquity.
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live. 20 The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
21 “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 22 None of his transgressions that he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh; “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
24 “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal? 26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive. 28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!
Ezequiel 18
Reina-Valera 1960
Ezequiel 18
Reina-Valera 1960
El alma que pecare morirá
18 Vino a mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo: 2 ¿Qué pensáis vosotros, los que usáis este refrán sobre la tierra de Israel, que dice: Los padres comieron las uvas agrias, y los dientes de los hijos tienen la dentera?(A) 3 Vivo yo, dice Jehová el Señor, que nunca más tendréis por qué usar este refrán en Israel. 4 He aquí que todas las almas son mías; como el alma del padre, así el alma del hijo es mía; el alma que pecare, esa morirá.
5 Y el hombre que fuere justo, e hiciere según el derecho y la justicia; 6 que no comiere sobre los montes, ni alzare sus ojos a los ídolos de la casa de Israel, ni violare la mujer de su prójimo, ni se llegare a la mujer menstruosa, 7 ni oprimiere a ninguno; que al deudor devolviere su prenda, que no cometiere robo, y que diere de su pan al hambriento y cubriere al desnudo con vestido, 8 que no prestare a interés ni tomare usura; que de la maldad retrajere su mano, e hiciere juicio verdadero entre hombre y hombre, 9 en mis ordenanzas caminare, y guardare mis decretos para hacer rectamente, este es justo; este vivirá,(B) dice Jehová el Señor.
10 Mas si engendrare hijo ladrón, derramador de sangre, o que haga alguna cosa de estas, 11 y que no haga las otras, sino que comiere sobre los montes, o violare la mujer de su prójimo, 12 al pobre y menesteroso oprimiere, cometiere robos, no devolviere la prenda, o alzare sus ojos a los ídolos e hiciere abominación, 13 prestare a interés y tomare usura; ¿vivirá este? No vivirá. Todas estas abominaciones hizo; de cierto morirá, su sangre será sobre él.
14 Pero si este engendrare hijo, el cual viere todos los pecados que su padre hizo, y viéndolos no hiciere según ellos; 15 no comiere sobre los montes, ni alzare sus ojos a los ídolos de la casa de Israel; la mujer de su prójimo no violare, 16 ni oprimiere a nadie, la prenda no retuviere, ni cometiere robos; al hambriento diere de su pan, y cubriere con vestido al desnudo; 17 apartare su mano del pobre, interés y usura no recibiere; guardare mis decretos y anduviere en mis ordenanzas; este no morirá por la maldad de su padre; de cierto vivirá. 18 Su padre, por cuanto hizo agravio, despojó violentamente al hermano, e hizo en medio de su pueblo lo que no es bueno, he aquí que él morirá por su maldad.
19 Y si dijereis: ¿Por qué el hijo no llevará el pecado de su padre? Porque el hijo hizo según el derecho y la justicia, guardó todos mis estatutos y los cumplió, de cierto vivirá. 20 El alma que pecare, esa morirá; el hijo no llevará el pecado del padre, ni el padre llevará el pecado del hijo;(C) la justicia del justo será sobre él, y la impiedad del impío será sobre él.
El camino de Dios es justo
(Ez. 33.10-20)
21 Mas el impío, si se apartare de todos sus pecados que hizo, y guardare todos mis estatutos e hiciere según el derecho y la justicia, de cierto vivirá; no morirá. 22 Todas las transgresiones que cometió, no le serán recordadas; en su justicia que hizo vivirá. 23 ¿Quiero yo la muerte del impío? dice Jehová el Señor. ¿No vivirá, si se apartare de sus caminos? 24 Mas si el justo se apartare de su justicia y cometiere maldad, e hiciere conforme a todas las abominaciones que el impío hizo, ¿vivirá él? Ninguna de las justicias que hizo le serán tenidas en cuenta; por su rebelión con que prevaricó, y por el pecado que cometió, por ello morirá.
25 Y si dijereis: No es recto el camino del Señor; oíd ahora, casa de Israel: ¿No es recto mi camino? ¿no son vuestros caminos torcidos? 26 Apartándose el justo de su justicia, y haciendo iniquidad, él morirá por ello; por la iniquidad que hizo, morirá. 27 Y apartándose el impío de su impiedad que hizo, y haciendo según el derecho y la justicia, hará vivir su alma. 28 Porque miró y se apartó de todas sus transgresiones que había cometido, de cierto vivirá; no morirá. 29 Si aún dijere la casa de Israel: No es recto el camino del Señor; ¿no son rectos mis caminos, casa de Israel? Ciertamente, vuestros caminos no son rectos.
30 Por tanto, yo os juzgaré a cada uno según sus caminos, oh casa de Israel, dice Jehová el Señor. Convertíos, y apartaos de todas vuestras transgresiones, y no os será la iniquidad causa de ruina. 31 Echad de vosotros todas vuestras transgresiones con que habéis pecado, y haceos un corazón nuevo y un espíritu nuevo. ¿Por qué moriréis, casa de Israel? 32 Porque no quiero la muerte del que muere, dice Jehová el Señor; convertíos, pues, y viviréis.
Ezekiel 18
Amplified Bible
Ezekiel 18
Amplified Bible
God Deals Justly with Individuals
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel,
‘[a]The fathers eat sour grapes [they sin],
But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 As I live,” says the Lord God, “you are certainly not going to use this proverb [as an excuse] in Israel anymore. 4 Behold (pay close attention), all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.(A)
5 “But if a man is righteous (keeps the law) and practices justice and righteousness, 6 and does not eat [at the pagan shrines] on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her [monthly] time of impurity— 7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he [b]does not charge interest or take a percentage of increase [on what he lends in compassion], if he keeps his hand from sin and executes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in My statutes and [keeps] My ordinances so as to act with integrity; [then] he is [truly] righteous and shall certainly live,” says the Lord God.(B)
10 “If he is the father of a violent son who sheds blood, and who does any of these things to a brother 11 (though the father did not do any of these things), that is, the son even eats [the food set before idols] at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore [to the debtor] his pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols, and commits repulsive acts, 13 and charges interest and takes [a percentage of] increase on what he has loaned; will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these disgusting things, he shall surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.
14 “Now behold, if this [wicked] man has a son who has observed all the sins which his father committed, and considers [thoughtfully what he has observed] and does not do like his father: 15 He does not eat [food set before idols] at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, 16 or oppress anyone, or take anything in pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17 he keeps his hand from [oppressing] the poor, does not receive interest or increase [from the needy], but executes My ordinances and walks in My statutes; he shall not die for the sin (guilt) of his father; he shall certainly live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his sin.
19 “Yet do you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s sin?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and has done them, he shall certainly live. 20 The person who sins [is the one that] will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the sin of the father, nor will the father bear the punishment for the sin of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on himself.
21 “But if the wicked man turns [away] from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 22 All of his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced [for his moral and spiritual integrity in every area and relationship], he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” says the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn [away] from his [malevolent] acts and live?
24 “But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin and acts in accordance with all the repulsive things that the wicked man does, will he live? All of his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered because of the treachery that he has committed and for his sin which he has committed; for them he shall die. 25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin and dies because of it, it is for his sin which he has committed that he dies. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right!’ O house of Israel, are My ways not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one in accordance with his conduct,” says the Lord God. “Repent (change your way of thinking) and turn away from all your transgressions, so that sin may not become a stumbling block to you.(C) 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed [against Me], and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, O house of Israel?(D) 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live!”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 18:2 This proverb is generally interpreted to mean that the subsequent generations suffer (‘the children’s teeth are set on edge’) for the sins of their ancestors (‘the fathers eat sour grapes’). The Israelites were using this well-known proverb as an excuse to blame their forefathers for their suffering and misfortune instead of acknowledging their guilt and taking personal responsibility for their sin.
- Ezekiel 18:8 Israelites were allowed to charge interest on loans made to Gentile foreigners, but not on loans to impoverished countrymen (Deut 23:20).
Ezekiel 18
New King James Version
Ezekiel 18
New King James Version
A False Proverb Refuted
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
‘The (A)fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4 “Behold, all souls are (B)Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
(C)The soul who sins shall die.
5 But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
6 (D)If he has not eaten [a]on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor (E)defiled his neighbor’s wife,
Nor approached (F)a woman during her impurity;
7 If he has not (G)oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his (H)pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has (I)given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with (J)clothing;
8 If he has not [b]exacted (K)usury
Nor taken any increase,
But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
And (L)executed true [c]judgment between man and man;
9 If he has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully—
He is just;
He shall surely (M)live!”
Says the Lord God.
10 “If he begets a son who is a robber
Or (N)a shedder of blood,
Who does any of these things
11 And does none of those duties,
But has eaten [d]on the mountains
Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;
12 If he has oppressed the poor and needy,
Robbed by violence,
Not restored the pledge,
Lifted his eyes to the idols,
Or (O)committed abomination;
13 If he has exacted usury
Or taken increase—
Shall he then live?
He shall not live!
If he has done any of these abominations,
He shall surely die;
(P)His blood shall be upon him.
14 “If, however, he begets a son
Who sees all the sins which his father has done,
And considers but does not do likewise;
15 (Q)Who has not eaten [e]on the mountains,
Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;
16 Has not oppressed anyone,
Nor withheld a pledge,
Nor robbed by violence,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
17 Who has withdrawn his hand from [f]the poor
And not received usury or increase,
But has executed My judgments
And walked in My statutes—
He shall not die for the iniquity of his father;
He shall surely live!
18 “As for his father,
Because he cruelly oppressed,
Robbed his brother by violence,
And did what is not good among his people,
Behold, (R)he shall die for his iniquity.
Turn and Live
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why (S)should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 (T)The soul who sins shall die. (U)The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. (V)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (W)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21 “But (X)if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 (Y)None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall (Z)live. 23 (AA)Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
24 “But (AB)when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? (AC)All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say, (AD)‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 (AE)When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, (AF)when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he (AG)considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 (AH)Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
30 (AI)“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. (AJ)“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 (AK)Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a (AL)new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For (AM)I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and (AN)live!”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 18:6 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:8 Lent money at interest
- Ezekiel 18:8 justice
- Ezekiel 18:11 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:15 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:17 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX iniquity (cf. v. 8)
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960) 
Reina-Valera 1960 ® © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Renovado © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988. Utilizado con permiso. Si desea más información visite americanbible.org, unitedbiblesocieties.org, vivelabiblia.com, unitedbiblesocieties.org/es/casa/, www.rvr60.bible
Amplified Bible (AMP) 
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.