New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
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The Lord spoke 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’?
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and said, "What is this proverb people keep repeating in the land of Israel? "The parents ate the sour grapes, But the children got the sour taste.'
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
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"As surely as I am the living God," says the Sovereign Lord, "you will not repeat this proverb in Israel any more.
4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
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The life of every person belongs to me, the life of the parent as well as that of the child. The person who sins is the one who will die.
5 “Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
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"Suppose there is a truly good man, righteous and honest.
6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.
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He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. He doesn't seduce another man's wife or have intercourse with a woman during her period.
7 He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.
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He doesn't cheat or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security; he feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.
8 He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.
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He doesn't lend money for profit. He refuses to do evil and gives an honest decision in any dispute.
9 He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.
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Such a man obeys my commands and carefully keeps my laws. He is righteous, and he will live," says the Sovereign Lord.
10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things
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"Then suppose this man has a son who robs and kills, who does any of these things
11 (though the father has done none of them): “He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
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that the father never did. He eats sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines and seduces other men's wives.
12 He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.
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He cheats the poor, he robs, he keeps what a borrower gives him as security. He goes to pagan shrines, worships disgusting idols,
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit. 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.
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and lends money for profit. Will he live? No, he will not. He has done all these disgusting things, and so he will die. He will be to blame for his own death.
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:
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"Now suppose this second man has a son. He sees all the sins his father practiced, but does not follow his example.
15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
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He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. He doesn't seduce another man'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 and provides clothing for the naked.
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or oppress anyone or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security. He feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked.
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live.
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He refuses to do evil and doesn't lend money for profit. He keeps my laws and obeys my commands. He will not die because of his father's sins, but he will certainly 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.
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His father, on the other hand, cheated and robbed and always did evil to everyone. And so he died because of the sins he himself had committed.
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.
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"But you ask, "Why shouldn't the son suffer because of his father's sins?' The answer is that the son did what was right and good. He kept my laws and followed them carefully, and so he will certainly live.
20 The one who sins is the one who will die. 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.
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It is the one who sins who will die. A son is not to suffer because of his father's sins, nor a father because of the sins of his son. Good people will be rewarded for doing good, and evil people will suffer for the evil they do.
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.
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"If someone evil stops sinning and keeps my laws, if he does what is right and good, he will not die; he will certainly live.
22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.
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All his sins will be forgiven, and he will live, because he did what is right.
23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
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Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?" asks the Sovereign Lord. "No, I would rather see them repent and live.
24 “But if a righteous person turns 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 they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.
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"But if a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing all the evil, disgusting things that evil people do, will he go on living? No! None of the good he did will be remembered. He will die because of his unfaithfulness and his sins.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
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"But you say, "What the Lord does isn't right.' Listen to me, you Israelites. Do you think my way of doing things isn't right? It is your way that isn't right.
26 If 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.
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When a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing evil and then dies, he dies because of the evil he has done.
27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.
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When someone evil stops sinning and does what is right and good, he saves his life.
28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.
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He realizes what he is doing and stops sinning, so he will certainly not die, but go on living.
29 Yet 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?
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And you Israelites say, "What the Lord does isn't right.' You think my way isn't right, do you? It is your way that isn't right.
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
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"Now I, the Sovereign Lord, am telling you Israelites that I will judge each of you by what you have done. Turn away from all the evil you are doing, and don't let your sin destroy you.
31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?
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Give up all the evil you have been doing, and get yourselves new minds and hearts. Why do you Israelites want to die?
32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
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I do not want anyone to die," says the Sovereign Lord. "Turn away from your sins and live."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.