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 If, however, he begets a son
Who sees all the sins which his father has done,
And considers but does not do likewise;
15 (A)Who has not eaten [a]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17 Who has withdrawn his hand from [b]the poor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, (B)he shall die for his iniquity.

Turn and Live

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why (C)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 (D)The soul who sins shall die. (E)The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. (F)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (G)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:15 At the mountain shrines
  2. Ezekiel 18:17 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX iniquity (cf. v. 8)