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17 Who has withdrawn his hand from [b]the poor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)

14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:(A)

15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines(B)
    or look to the idols(C) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16 He does not oppress anyone
    or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
    but gives his food to the hungry(D)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(E)
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
    and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws(F) and follows my decrees.

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.(G) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(H) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.(I)

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