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. ⁴ Behold, 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— ⁶ if 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, ¹² oppresses 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.

³⁰ “Therefore ^(A)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. ^(B)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, ^(C)lest iniquity be your ruin.^{[a] 31 (D)}Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and ^(E)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! ^(F)Why will you die, O house of Israel? ^32 (G)For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; ^(H)so turn, and live.”