1THE word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.
10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,
16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath 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, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

1And the word of þe Lord came vnto me againe, saying;

2What meane ye that yee vse this prouerbe concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers haue eaten sowre grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge?

3As I liue, saith the Lord God, yee shall not haue occasion any more to vse this prouerbe in Israel.

4Behold, all soules are mine, as the soule of the father, so also the soule of the sonne is mine: the soule that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be iust, and do that which is lawfull and right:

6And hath not eaten vpon the mountaines, neither hath lift vp his eyes to the idoles of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbours wife, neither hath come neere to a menstruous woman,

7And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtourhis pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath giuen his bread to the hungrie, and hath couered the naked with a garment,

8He that hath not giuen foorth vpon vsurie, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawen his hand from iniquitie, hath executed true iudgement betweene man and man,

9Hath walked in my Statutes, and hath kept my Iudgements to deale truely; hee is iust, hee shall surely liue, saith the Lord God.

10 If hee beget a sonne that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doth the like to any one of these things,

11And that doeth not any of those duties, bnt euen hath eaten vpon the mountains, and defiled his neighbours wife,

12Hath oppressed the poore and needie, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lift vp his eyes to the idoles, hath committed abomination,

13Hath giuen foorth vpon vsurie, and hath taken encrease: shall he then liue? hee shall not liue: hee hath done all these abominations, hee shall surely die, his blood shalbe vpon him.

14 Now loe, if hee beget a sonne that seeth all his fathers sinnes which he hath done, and considereth, and doth not such like,

15That hath not eaten vpon the mountaines, neither hath lift vp his eyes to the idoles of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbours wife,

16Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath giuen his bread to the hungry, and hath couered the naked with a garment,

17That hath taken off his hand from the poore, that hath not receiued vsurie nor increase, hath executed my Iudgements, hath walked in my Statutes, he shall not die for the iniquitie of his father, he shall surely liue.

18As for his father, because hee cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, loe, euen he shall die in his iniquitie.

19 Yet say yee, Why? doeth not the sonne beare the iniquitie of the father? when the sonne hath done that which is lawfull and right, and hath kept all my Statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely liue.

20The soule that sinneth, it shal die: the sonne shall not beare the iniquitie of the father, neither shal the father beare the iniquitie of the sonne; the righteousnesse of the righteous shall bee vpon him, and the wickednesse of the wicked shalbe vpon him.

21But if the wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my statutes, and doe that which is lawful and right, he shall surely liue, he shall not die.

22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned vnto him: in his righteousnesse, that he hath done, he shall liue.

23Haue I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God ? And not that he should returne from his wayes, and liue?

24 But when the righteous turneth away frō his righteousnes, & committeth iniquitie, and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth, shall he liue? all his righteousnesse that he hath done, shall not be mentioned: in his trespasse that he hath trespassed, and in his sinne that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

25 Yet yee say; The way of the Lord is not equall. Heare now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equall? are not your wayes vnequall?

26When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousnesse, & committeth iniquitie, and dieth in them; for his iniquitie that he hath done, shall he die.

27Againe, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickednesse that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawfull and right, he shall saue his soule aliue.

28Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely liue, he shall not die.

29Yet saith the house of Israel; The way of the Lord is not equall. O house of Israel, are not my wayes equall? are not your wayes vnequall?

30Therefore I will iudge you, O house of Israel, euery one according to his wayes, saith the Lord God; repent, and turne your selues from all your transgressions: so iniquitie shall not be your ruine.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherby yee haue transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will yee die, O house of Israel?

32For I haue no pleasure in þe death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turne your selues, & liue ye.

IV == Ezek 18:20 ; Rom 6:23

VI == Lev 18:19-20 ; 20:10 , 18 ; Ezek 22:9

VII == Ex 22:21 , 26 ; Lev 19:15 ; 25:14 ; Deut 15:7-8 ; 24:12-13 ; Isa 58:7 ; Matt 25:35-36

VIII == Ex 22:25 ; Lev 25:36-37 ; Deut 1:16 ; 23:19 ; Neh 5:7 ; Ps 15:5 ; Zech 8:16

IX == Gen 9:6 ; Ex 21:12 ; Num 35:31 ; Ezek 20:11 ; Amos 5:4

XII == Ezek 8:6 , 17

XIII == Lev 20:9 , 11-13 , 16 , 27 ; Ezek 3:18 ; 33:4 ; Acts 18:6

XV == Ezek 18:6

XVIII == Ezek 3:18

XIX == Ex 20:5 ; Deut 5:9 ; 2nd Kings 23:26 ; 24:3-4

XX == Deut 24:16 ; 2nd Kings 14:6 ; 2nd Chr 25:4 ; Isa 3:10-11 ; Jer 31:29-30 ; Ezek 18:4 ; Rom 2:9

XXI == Ezek 18:27 ; 33:12 , 19

XXII == Ezek 33:16

XXIII == Ezek 18:32 ; 33:11 ; 1st Tim 2:4 ; 2nd Peter 3:9

XXIV == Ezek 3:20 ; 33:12-13 , 18 ; 2nd Peter 2:20

XXV == Ezek 18:29 ; 33:17 , 20

XXVI == Ezek 18:24

XXVII == Ezek 18:21

XXVIII == Ezek 18:14

XXIX == Ezek 18:25

XXX == Ezek 7:3 ; 33:20 ; Matt 3:2 ; Rev 2:5

XXXI == Jer 32:39 ; Ezek 11:19 ; 36:26 ; Eph 4:22-23

XXXII == Lam 3:33 ; Ezek 18:23 ; 26:17 ; 27:2 ; 33:11 ; 2nd Peter 3:9

1 Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,

2 what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: "Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children's teeth are on edge"?

3 As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel.

4 For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.

5 If a man is virtuous - if he does what is right and just,

6 if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;

7 if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;

8 if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent;

9 if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous - he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

10 But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or who does any of these things

11 (though the father does none of them), a son who eats on the mountains, defiles the wife of his neighbor,

12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things,

13 lends at interest and exacts usury - this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault.

14 On the other hand, if a man begets a son who, seeing all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him;

15 a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife;

16 who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked;

17 who holds off from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and lives by my statutes - this one shall not die for the sins of his father, but shall surely live.

18 Only the father, since he violated rights, and robbed, and did what was not good among his people, shall in truth die for his sins.

19 You ask: "Why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?" Because the son has done what is right and just, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.

20 Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man's virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness shall be his own.

21 But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.

23 Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

24 And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.

25 You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?

26 When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.

27 But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life;

28 since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

29 And yet the house of Israel says, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Is it my way that is not fair, house of Israel, or rather, is it not that your ways are not fair?

30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you.

31 Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

v 1-4. This proverb was well known and quoted, Jer. 31:29,30. The point, from Ex. 20:5; 34:6,7; and Deut. 5:9 was that children would suffer effects of their father’s sins, but each one was responsible for their own sins.

v 5-9. A man righteous in all these ways would not suffer for the sins of others, but would be spared. These people were all so wicked they did not have that promise.

V 10-13. A wicked son of that righteous man would have to die for his sin.

v 14-20. A righteous grandson, son of the wicked man, would not die. The proverb was wrong, everyone would die for their own sin.

v 21-23. If the wicked man turned from his sin, he too would live.

v 24. A righteous person who turned wicked would have to die for his sin. The law required physical death, but not loss of salvation. Jn. 10:28,29; Rom. 8:38,39. We see how today a believer may physically die for sin, 1 Cor. 11:27-30.

v 25-32. They were wrong to accuse God of being unfair. He was fair, but it was up to them to repent of their sins. That was God’s desire.