14 “Now behold, he has fathered a son who saw all his father’s sins which he committed, but he has (A)seen them and does not do likewise. 15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he has not defiled his neighbor’s wife, 16 nor oppressed anyone, nor retained a pledge, nor committed robbery; instead, he (B)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17 he keeps his hand from [a]the poor, does not take any kind of interest on loans, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; (C)he will not die for his father’s guilt, he will certainly live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his guilt.

19 “Yet you say, ‘(D)Why should the son not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt?’ When the son has practiced (E)justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them, he shall certainly live. 20 The person who (F)sins will die. A (G)son will not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt, nor will a father suffer the punishment for the son’s guilt; the (H)righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:17 As in MT; LXX injustice

14 “But suppose he in turn has a son who notices all the sins his father commits, considers them, and does not follow his father’s example.[a] 15 He does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains, does not pray to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, 16 does not oppress anyone or keep what has been given in pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked, 17 refrains from wrongdoing,[b] does not engage in usury or charge interest, carries out my regulations, and follows my statutes. He will not die for his father’s iniquity;[c] he will surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practices extortion, robs his brother, and does what is not good among his people, he will die for his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer[d] for his father’s iniquity?’ When the son does what is just and right, and observes all my statutes and carries them out, he will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A son will not suffer[e] for his father’s iniquity, and a father will not suffer[f] for his son’s iniquity; the righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness.[g]

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:14 tn Heb “and he sees and does not do likewise.”
  2. Ezekiel 18:17 tc This translation follows the LXX. The MT reads: “restrains his hand from the poor,” which makes no sense here.
  3. Ezekiel 18:17 tn Or “in his father’s punishment.” The phrase “in/for [a person’s] iniquity/punishment” occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel: here and in vv. 18, 19, 20; 3:18, 19; 4:17; 7:13, 16; 24:23; 33:6, 8, 9; 39:23. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” may also mean the “punishment for iniquity.”
  4. Ezekiel 18:19 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  5. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  6. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  7. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “the righteousness of the righteous one will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked one will be upon him.”