Parallel Bible results for "ezekiel 18"

Ezekiel 18

New Living Translation NLT

1 Then another message came to me from the LORD :

2 “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?

3 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.

4 For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.

5 “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.

6 He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.

7 He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.

8 He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,

9 and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD .

10 “But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.

11 And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,

12 oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,

13 and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

14 “But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life.

15 This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.

16 He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.

17 He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live.

18 But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.

19 “‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.

20 The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.

21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.

22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD . Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you?

26 When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.

27 And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.

28 They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.

29 And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.

30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD . Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you!

31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?

32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD . Turn back and live!

The Message Bible MSG

1 God's Message to me:

2 "What do you people mean by going around the country repeating the saying, The parents ate green apples, The children got stomachache?

3 "As sure as I'm the living God, you're not going to repeat this saying in Israel any longer.

4 Every soul - man, woman, child - belongs to me, parent and child alike. You die for your own sin, not another's.

5 "Imagine a person who lives well, treating others fairly, keeping good relationships -

6 doesn't eat at the pagan shrines, doesn't worship the idols so popular in Israel, doesn't seduce a neighbor's spouse, doesn't indulge in casual sex,

7 doesn't bully anyone, doesn't pile up bad debts, doesn't steal, doesn't refuse food to the hungry, doesn't refuse clothing to the ill-clad,

8 doesn't exploit the poor, doesn't live by impulse and greed, doesn't treat one person better than another,

9 But lives by my statutes and faithfully honors and obeys my laws. This person who lives upright and well shall live a full and true life. Decree of God, the Master.

10 "But if this person has a child who turns violent and murders and goes off and does any of these things,

11 even though the parent has done none of them - eats at the pagan shrines, seduces his neighbor's spouse,

12 bullies the weak, steals, piles up bad debts, admires idols, commits outrageous obscenities,

13 exploits the poor " - do you think this person, the child, will live? Not a chance! Because he's done all these vile things, he'll die. And his death will be his own fault.

14 "Now look: Suppose that this child has a child who sees all the sins done by his parent. The child sees them, but doesn't follow in the parent's footsteps -

15 doesn't eat at the pagan shrines, doesn't worship the popular idols of Israel, doesn't seduce his neighbor's spouse,

16 doesn't bully anyone, doesn't refuse to loan money, doesn't steal, doesn't refuse food to the hungry, doesn't refuse to give clothes to the ill-clad,

17 doesn't live by impulse and greed, doesn't exploit the poor. He does what I say; he performs my laws and lives by my statutes.

18 But the parent will die for what the parent did, for the sins of - oppressing the weak, robbing brothers and sisters, doing what is dead wrong in the community.

19 "Do you need to ask, 'So why does the child not share the guilt of the parent?'

20 The soul that sins is the soul that dies. The child does not share the guilt of the parent, nor the parent the guilt of the child. If you live upright and well, you get the credit; if you live a wicked life, you're guilty as charged.

21 "But a wicked person who turns his back on that life of sin and keeps all my statutes, living a just and righteous life, he'll live, really live. He won't die.

22 I won't keep a list of all the things he did wrong. He will live.

23 Do you think I take any pleasure in the death of wicked men and women? Isn't it my pleasure that they turn around, no longer living wrong but living right - really living?

24 "The same thing goes for a good person who turns his back on an upright life and starts sinning, plunging into the same vile obscenities that the wicked person practices. Will this person live? I don't keep a list of all the things this person did right, like money in the bank he can draw on. Because of his defection, because he accumulates sin, he'll die.

25 "Do I hear you saying, 'That's not fair! God's not fair!'?

26 If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he'll die for it. He'll die for his own sin.

27 Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life.

28 Because he faces up to all the wrongs he's committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won't die.

29 "And yet Israel keeps on whining, 'That's not fair! God's not fair.' "I'm not fair, Israel? You're the ones who aren't fair.

30 "The upshot is this, Israel: I'll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won't drag you down.

31 Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel?

32 I take no pleasure in anyone's death. Decree of God, the Master. "Make a clean break! Live!"