Chapter 18[a]
Individual Responsibility. 1 This word of the Lord came to me: 2 Why do you insist on repeating this proverb in the land of Israel:
The parents have eaten sour grapes,
and their children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, says the Lord God, you will no longer repeat this proverb in Israel. 4 Do not forget that all lives are mine. The life of the father and the life of the son are both mine. Only the person who sins shall die.
5 Reflect upon a virtuous man
who does what is lawful and right.
6 He does not eat[b] on the mountains
or lift up his eyes
to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have relations with a woman
during her menstrual period.
7 He does not oppress anyone
but returns his pledge to a debtor.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and his clothes to those who are naked.
8 He does not lend money for profit
or charge interest.
He refrains from evildoing
and judges fairly between a man and his opponent.
9 He obeys my laws
and is careful to observe my ordinances.
Such a man is righteous;
he shall surely live,
says the Lord God.
10 But this man may have a son who is violent and sheds blood, 11 or does any of these other deeds, even though his father has done none of them:
He eats at the mountain shrines
and defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor and the needy,
commits robbery,
and does not return pledges.
He lifts his eyes to idols,
does abominable things,
13 and lends for profit or charges interest.
Will such a man live? He will not. Since he has done all of these detestable acts, he shall surely be put to death, and his blood will be on his own head.
14 But suppose this man has a son who observes all the sins his father has committed, and even though he sees them, he refuses to follow in his footsteps:
15 He does not eat on the mountains
or lift up his eyes
to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife;
16 he does not oppress anyone
or exact a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and his clothes to those who are naked.
17 He refrains from evildoing
and accepts no usury or excessive profit.
He obeys my laws
and is careful to observe my ordinances.
This man will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his iniquity because he practiced extortion, robbed his brothers, and never did what was good for his people.
19 You may ask, “Why should not the son share the guilt of his father?” If the son has done what is lawful and just, and he has been careful to observe all my laws, he will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A son shall not bear the responsibility for his father’s guilt, nor shall a father be charged with the guilt of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man shall be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked man shall be charged against him.
21 However, if the wicked renounce all of the sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is right and just, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 22 None of the crimes that they have committed shall be remembered against them; they shall live because of the righteous deeds that they have done 23 Do I derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? asks the Lord God. Would I not rather rejoice to see them turn away from their wickedness and live?
24 But if the righteous turn away from their virtuous ways to follow the path of evil and do the same kind of abominable deeds that the wicked do, can they do this and live? None of their virtuous deeds will be remembered. Because of their infidelity and the sins they have committed, they shall die.
25 Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unjust.” Now listen, O house of Israel! Is my way unfair? Or, rather, is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When those who are righteous turn away from their righteousness and turn to evil pursuits, they shall die as a result of the iniquity that they have committed.
27 Similarly, when those who are wicked turn away from the wickedness that they have committed and do what is right and just, they shall save their life. 28 Since they have chosen to renounce all of the evil ways that they have followed, they shall surely live; they shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
30 Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one of you according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent and renounce all your transgressions. Otherwise your iniquity will prove to be your downfall. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions you have committed, and strengthen yourself with a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Repent and live!
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 18:1 The life and thought of Israel were controlled by a clan morality. Ezekiel, however, sets down a revolutionary principle: retribution is individual, each person receiving what he or she deserves. It is authentic righteousness that is spoken of here, the point of departure for an examination of conscience by the people as a whole and by the individual (vv. 5-9). In Ezek 14:12, the new basis of moral judgment has already made its explicit entrance into the Bible. It is not only a reminder to everyone; it is first of all an exhortation to a personal conversion (see Ezek 14:12-23; 33:10-20).
- Ezekiel 18:6 Eat: some idolatrous rites involved meals.