Ezekiel 18-20

New International Version

The One Who Sins Will Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?^(A)

³“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb^(B) in Israel. ⁴For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins^(C) is the one who will die.^(D)

⁵“Suppose there is a righteous man
    who does what is just and right.
⁶He does not eat at the mountain^(E) shrines
    or look to the idols^(F) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
    or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.^(G)
⁷He does not oppress^(H) anyone,
    but returns what he took in pledge^(I) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery^(J)
    but gives his food to the hungry^(K)
    and provides clothing for the naked.^(L)
⁸He does not lend to them at interest
    or take a profit from them.^(M)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
    and judges fairly^(N) between two parties.
⁹He follows my decrees^(O)
    and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;^(P)
    he will surely live,^(Q)
declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁰“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood^(R) or does any of these other things^[a] ¹¹(though the father has done none of them):

“He eats at the mountain shrines.^(S)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
¹²He oppresses the poor^(T) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.^(U)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.^(V)
¹³He lends at interest and takes a profit.^(W)

Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.^(X)

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:^(Y)

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

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. ¹⁸But 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.^(AE) ²⁰The one who sins is the one who will die.^(AF) 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.^(AG)

²¹“But if^(AH) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees^(AI) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(AJ) ²²None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.^(AK) ²³Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased^(AL) when they turn from their ways and live?^(AM)

²⁴“But if a righteous person turns^(AN) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness^(AO) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.^(AP)

²⁵“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’^(AQ) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?^(AR) Is it not your ways that are unjust? ²⁶If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. ²⁷But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.^(AS) ²⁸Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(AT) ²⁹Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

³⁰“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!^(AU) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^(AV) ³¹Rid^(AW) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart^(AX) and a new spirit. Why^(AY) will you die, people of Israel?^(AZ) ³²For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent^(BA) and live!^(BB)

A Lament Over Israel’s Princes

19 “Take up a lament^(BC) concerning the princes^(BD) of Israel ²and say:

“‘What a lioness^(BE) was your mother
    among the lions!
She lay down among them
    and reared her cubs.^(BF)
³She brought up one of her cubs,
    and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.
⁴The nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks^(BG)
    to the land of Egypt.^(BH)

⁵“‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
    her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs^(BI)
    and made him a strong lion.^(BJ)
⁶He prowled among the lions,
    for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.^(BK)
⁷He broke down^[b] their strongholds
    and devastated^(BL) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.
⁸Then the nations^(BM) came against him,
    those from regions round about.
They spread their net^(BN) for him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.^(BO)
⁹With hooks^(BP) they pulled him into a cage
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(BQ)
They put him in prison,
    so his roar^(BR) was heard no longer
    on the mountains of Israel.^(BS)

¹⁰“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[c]^(BT)
    planted by the water;^(BU)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.^(BV)
¹¹Its branches were strong,
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
    above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
    and for its many branches.^(BW)
¹²But it was uprooted^(BX) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind^(BY) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.^(BZ)
¹³Now it is planted in the desert,^(CA)
    in a dry and thirsty land.^(CB)
¹⁴Fire spread from one of its main^[d] branches
    and consumed^(CC) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’^(CD)

“This is a lament^(CE) and is to be used as a lament.”

Rebellious Israel Purged

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire^(CF) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.^(CG)

²Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³“Son of man, speak to the elders^(CH) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(CI) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(CJ)’

⁴“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors^(CK) ⁵and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(CL) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(CM) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.^(CN)” ⁶On that day I swore^(CO) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(CP) the most beautiful of all lands.^(CQ) ⁷And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(CR) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols^(CS) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(CT)”

⁸“‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;^(CU) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.^(CV) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.^(CW) ⁹But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.^(CX) I did it to keep my name from being profaned^(CY) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. ¹⁰Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.^(CZ) ¹¹I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.^(DA) ¹²Also I gave them my Sabbaths^(DB) as a sign^(DC) between us,^(DD) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.^(DE)

¹³“‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled^(DF) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws^(DG)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.^(DH) So I said I would pour out my wrath^(DI) on them and destroy^(DJ) them in the wilderness.^(DK) ¹⁴But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned^(DL) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.^(DM) ¹⁵Also with uplifted hand I swore^(DN) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands^(DO)— ¹⁶because they rejected my laws^(DP) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts^(DQ) were devoted to their idols.^(DR) ¹⁷Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy^(DS) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. ¹⁸I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents^(DT) or keep their laws or defile yourselves^(DU) with their idols. ¹⁹I am the Lord your God;^(DV) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(DW) ²⁰Keep my Sabbaths^(DX) holy, that they may be a sign^(DY) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.^(DZ)”

²¹“‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,^(EA) of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger^(EB) against them in the wilderness.^(EC) ²²But I withheld^(ED) my hand, and for the sake of my name^(EE) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. ²³Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter^(EF) them through the countries, ²⁴because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees^(EG) and desecrated my Sabbaths,^(EH) and their eyes lusted after^(EI) their parents’ idols.^(EJ) ²⁵So I gave^(EK) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;^(EL) ²⁶I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice^(EM) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.^(EN)’

²⁷“Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestors^(EO) blasphemed^(EP) me by being unfaithful to me:^(EQ) ²⁸When I brought them into the land^(ER) I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.^(ES) ²⁹Then I said to them: What is this high place^(ET) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah^[e] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(EU) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^(EV) ³¹When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(EW) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.^(EX)

³²“‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen. ³³As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm^(EY) and with outpoured wrath.^(EZ) ³⁴I will bring you from the nations^(FA) and gather^(FB) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand^(FC) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.^(FD) ³⁵I will bring you into the wilderness^(FE) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment^(FF) upon you. ³⁶As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(FG) ³⁷I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,^(FH) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.^(FI) ³⁸I will purge^(FJ) you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(FK)

³⁹“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(FL) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(FM) with your gifts and idols.^(FN) ⁴⁰For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,^(FO) declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings^(FP) and your choice gifts,^[f] along with all your holy sacrifices.^(FQ) ⁴¹I will accept you as fragrant incense^(FR) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(FS) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(FT) through you in the sight of the nations.^(FU) ⁴²Then you will know that I am the Lord,^(FV) when I bring you into the land of Israel,^(FW) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.^(FX) ⁴³There you will remember your conduct^(FY) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves^(FZ) for all the evil you have done.^(GA) ⁴⁴You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake^(GB) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(GC)’”

Prophecy Against the South

⁴⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ⁴⁶“Son of man, set your face toward^(GD) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against^(GE) the forest of the southland.^(GF) ⁴⁷Say to the southern forest:^(GG) ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume^(GH) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north^(GI) will be scorched by it.^(GJ) ⁴⁸Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.^(GK)’”