“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, if he does not (A)eat at the mountain shrines or (B)raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or (C)defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— and if a man does not oppress anyone, but (D)restores to the debtor his pledge, (E)does not commit robbery, but (F)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, and if he does not [a]lend money at (G)interest or take [b](H)interest, if he keeps his hand from injustice and (I)executes true justice between one person and another, if he walks in (J)My statutes and keeps My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—(K)he is righteous and will certainly (L)live,” declares the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:8 Lit give
  2. Ezekiel 18:8 Or usury, and so throughout the ch; i.e., on other kinds of loans

People are declared innocent when they act justly and responsibly. They don’t eat on the hills or give their attention to the idols of the house of Israel. They don’t defile the wives of their neighbors or approach menstruating women. They don’t cheat anyone, but fulfill their obligations. They don’t rob others, but give food to the hungry and clothes to the naked. They don’t impose interest or take profit. They refrain from evil and settle cases between people fairly. They follow my regulations, keep my case laws, and act faithfully. Such people are innocent, and they will live, proclaims the Lord God.

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