The word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} came unto me again, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

What mean ye, that ye use{H4911}{(H8802)} this proverb{H4912} concerning the land{H127} of Israel{H3478}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The fathers{H1} have eaten{H398}{(H8799)} sour grapes{H1155}, and the children's{H1121} teeth{H8127} are set on edge{H6949}{(H8799)}?

As I live{H2416}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, ye shall not have occasion any more to use{H4911}{(H8800)} this proverb{H4912} in Israel{H3478}.

Behold, all souls{H5315} are mine; as the soul{H5315} of the father{H1}, so also the soul{H5315} of the son{H1121} is mine: the soul{H5315} that sinneth{H2398}{(H8802)}, it shall die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

But if a man{H376} be just{H6662}, and do{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666},

And hath not eaten{H398}{(H8804)} upon the mountains{H2022}, neither hath lifted up{H5375}{(H8804)} his eyes{H5869} to the idols{H1544} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, neither hath defiled{H2930}{(H8765)} his neighbour's{H7453} wife{H802}, neither hath come near{H7126}{(H8799)} to a menstruous{H5079} woman{H802},

And hath not oppressed{H3238}{(H8686)} any{H376}, but hath restored{H7725}{(H8686)} to the debtor{H2326} his pledge{H2258}, hath spoiled{H1497}{(H8799)} none by violence{H1500}, hath given{H5414}{(H8799)} his bread{H3899} to the hungry{H7457}, and hath covered{H3680}{(H8762)} the naked{H5903} with a garment{H899};

He that hath not given forth{H5414}{(H8799)} upon usury{H5392}, neither hath taken{H3947}{(H8799)} any increase{H8636}, that hath withdrawn{H7725}{(H8686)} his hand{H3027} from iniquity{H5766}, hath executed{H6213}{(H8799)} true{H571} judgment{H4941} between man{H376} and man{H376},

Hath walked{H1980}{(H8762)} in my statutes{H2708}, and hath kept{H8104}{(H8804)} my judgments{H4941}, to deal{H6213}{(H8800)} truly{H571}; he is just{H6662}, he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}.

If he beget{H3205}{(H8689)} a son{H1121} that is a robber{H6530}, a shedder{H8210}{(H8802)} of blood{H1818}, and that doeth{H6213}{(H8804)} the like{H251} to any one{H259} of these things,

And that doeth{H6213}{(H8804)} not any of those duties, but even hath eaten{H398}{(H8804)} upon the mountains{H2022}, and defiled{H2930}{(H8765)} his neighbour's{H7453} wife{H802},

Hath oppressed{H3238}{(H8689)} the poor{H6041} and needy{H34}, hath spoiled{H1497}{(H8804)} by violence{H1500}, hath not restored{H7725}{(H8686)} the pledge{H2258}, and hath lifted up{H5375}{(H8804)} his eyes{H5869} to the idols{H1544}, hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)} abomination{H8441},

Hath given forth{H5414}{(H8804)} upon usury{H5392}, and hath taken{H3947}{(H8804)} increase{H8636}: shall he then live{H2425}{(H8804)}? he shall not live{H2421}{(H8799)}: he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} all these abominations{H8441}; he shall surely{H4191}{(H8800)} die{H4191}{(H8714)}; his blood{H1818} shall be upon him.

Now, lo, if he beget{H3205}{(H8689)} a son{H1121}, that seeth{H7200}{(H8799)} all his father's{H1} sins{H2403} which he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)}, and considereth{H7200}{(H8799)}, and doeth{H6213}{(H8799)} not such like{H2004},

That hath not eaten{H398}{(H8804)} upon the mountains{H2022}, neither hath lifted up{H5375}{(H8804)} his eyes{H5869} to the idols{H1544} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, hath not defiled{H2930}{(H8765)} his neighbour's{H7453} wife{H802},

Neither hath oppressed{H3238}{(H8689)} any{H376}, hath not withholden{H2254}{(H8804)} the pledge{H2258}, neither hath spoiled{H1497}{(H8804)} by violence{H1500}, but hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} his bread{H3899} to the hungry{H7457}, and hath covered{H3680}{(H8765)} the naked{H5903} with a garment{H899},

That hath taken off{H7725}{(H8689)} his hand{H3027} from the poor{H6041}, that hath not received{H3947}{(H8804)} usury{H5392} nor increase{H8636}, hath executed{H6213}{(H8804)} my judgments{H4941}, hath walked{H1980}{(H8804)} in my statutes{H2708}; he shall not die{H4191}{(H8799)} for the iniquity{H5771} of his father{H1}, he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

As for his father{H1}, because he cruelly{H6233} oppressed{H6231}{(H8804)}, spoiled{H1497}{(H8804)} his brother{H251} by violence{H1499}, and did{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is not good{H2896} among{H8432} his people{H5971}, lo, even he shall die{H4191}{(H8801)} in his iniquity{H5771}.

Yet say{H559}{(H8804)} ye, Why? doth not the son{H1121} bear{H5375}{(H8804)} the iniquity{H5771} of the father{H1}? When the son{H1121} hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666}, and hath kept{H8104}{(H8804)} all my statutes{H2708}, and hath done{H6213}{(H8799)} them, he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

The soul{H5315} that sinneth{H2398}{(H8802)}, it shall die{H4191}{(H8799)}. The son{H1121} shall not bear{H5375}{(H8799)} the iniquity{H5771} of the father{H1}, neither shall the father{H1} bear{H5375}{(H8799)} the iniquity{H5771} of the son{H1121}: the righteousness{H6666} of the righteous{H6662} shall be upon him, and the wickedness{H7564} of the wicked{H7563} shall be upon him.

But if the wicked{H7563} will turn{H7725}{(H8799)} from all his sins{H2403} that he hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)}, and keep{H8104}{(H8804)} all my statutes{H2708}, and do{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666}, he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}, he shall not die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

All his transgressions{H6588} that he hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)}, they shall not be mentioned{H2142}{(H8735)} unto him: in his righteousness{H6666} that he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} he shall live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

Have I any pleasure{H2654}{(H8799)} at all{H2654}{(H8800)} that the wicked{H7563} should die{H4194}? saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}: and not that he should return{H7725}{(H8800)} from his ways{H1870}, and live{H2421}{(H8804)}?

But when the righteous{H6662} turneth away{H7725}{(H8800)} from his righteousness{H6666}, and committeth{H6213}{(H8804)} iniquity{H5766}, and doeth{H6213}{(H8799)} according to all the abominations{H8441} that the wicked{H7563} man doeth{H6213}{(H8804)}, shall he live{H2425}{(H8804)}? All his righteousness{H6666} that he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} shall not be mentioned{H2142}{(H8735)}: in his trespass{H4603}{(H8804)} that he hath trespassed{H4604}, and in his sin{H2403} that he hath sinned{H2398}{(H8804)}, in them shall he die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

Yet ye say{H559}{(H8804)}, The way{H1870} of the Lord{H136} is not equal{H8505}{(H8735)}. Hear{H8085}{(H8798)} now, O house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}; Is not my way{H1870} equal{H8505}{(H8735)}? are not your ways{H1870} unequal{H8505}{(H8735)}?

When a righteous{H6662} man turneth away{H7725}{(H8800)} from his righteousness{H6666}, and committeth{H6213}{(H8804)} iniquity{H5766}, and dieth{H4191}{(H8804)} in them; for his iniquity{H5766} that he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} shall he die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

Again, when the wicked{H7563} man turneth away{H7725}{(H8800)} from his wickedness{H7564} that he hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)}, and doeth{H6213}{(H8799)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666}, he shall save{H2421} his soul{H5315} alive{H2421}{(H8762)}.

Because he considereth{H7200}{(H8799)}, and turneth away{H7725}{(H8799)} from all his transgressions{H6588} that he hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)}, he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}, he shall not die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

Yet saith{H559}{(H8804)} the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, The way{H1870} of the Lord{H136} is not equal{H8505}{(H8735)}. O house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, are not my ways{H1870} equal{H8505}{(H8735)}? are not your ways{H1870} unequal{H8505}{(H8735)}?

Therefore I will judge{H8199}{(H8799)} you, O house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, every one{H376} according to his ways{H1870}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}. Repent{H7725}{(H8798)}, and turn{H7725}{(H8685)} yourselves from all your transgressions{H6588}; so iniquity{H5771} shall not be your ruin{H4383}.

Cast away{H7993}{(H8685)} from you all your transgressions{H6588}, whereby ye have transgressed{H6586}{(H8804)}; and make{H6213}{(H8798)} you a new{H2319} heart{H3820} and a new{H2319} spirit{H7307}: for why will ye die{H4191}{(H8799)}, O house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}?

For I have no pleasure{H2654}{(H8799)} in the death{H4194} of him that dieth{H4191}{(H8801)}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}: wherefore turn{H7725}{(H8685)} yourselves, and live{H2421}{(H8798)} ye.