Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18

1God disalloweth the parable of sour grapes: 5he sheweth his dealing with a just man, 10with the wicked son of a just father, 14and with the just son of a wicked father: 19he declareth that the treatment of both son and father shall be according to their respective deserts: 21and that the wicked, if he repent, shall live; 24but he that revolteth from his righteousness shall die: 25he defendeth the equity of his dealings: 31and exhorteth to repentance.


1THE word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

2What amean ye, that bye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The cfathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

a Ps. 145.17. De. 32.4. Zep. 3.5. Ro. 9.20. b ch. 16.44. c Je. 31.29,30; 15.4. La. 5.7. 2Ki. 23.26; 24.3,4. Ex. 20.5. Mat. 23.35.

3As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4Behold, dall souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: ethe soul that sinneth, it shall die.

d Nu. 16.22; 27.16. Zec. 12.1. Job 12.10. He. 12.9. e Ro. 6.23; 2.8,9. Is. 3.11. Je. 2.19; 4.18; 31.30. v.20. Ga. 3.10.

5¶But fif a man be just, and do 1that which is lawful and right,

1Heb. judgment and justice.

f Is. 3.10. Ro. 2.7,10. Ps. 19.11. 1Co. 15.58. Mi. 6.8. Hab. 2.4.

6And hath not geaten upon the mountains, neither hath hlifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath idefiled his neighbour's wife, neither jhath come near to a menstruous woman,

g Le. 18.19. ch. 6.13; 16.16,24; 20.28; 22.9. Ex. 34.15. 1Co. 10.20,21. v.11,15. De. 12.2. h De. 4.19. Job 31.26,27. Ps. 121.1; 123.1,2. ch. 8.16; 33.25. i Le. 18.20; 20.10. He. 13.4. j Le. 18.19; 20.18; 15.25. ch. 22.10.

7And khath not oppressed any, but lhath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, mhath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

k Ex. 22.21. Pr. 3.31. Le. 19.15; 25.14. Je. 7.6,7; 22.3. l Ex. 22.26. De. 24.12,13,17. Job 22.6; 24.3,9. ch. 33.15. m De. 15.7,8. Is. 58.7. Mat. 25.35,36. Job 31.19.

8He that nhath not given forth upon *usury, neither hath taken any increase, that ohath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, phath executed true judgment between man and man,

*usury-interest on money lent.

n Ex. 22.25. Le. 25.35-37. De. 23.19. Ps. 15.5. Ne. 5.1-7. Je. 15.10. ch. 22.12. o Is. 33.15. 2Sa. 22.27. p Le. 19.15,35. Zec. 8.16. Ps. 15. De. 1.16.

9Hath qwalked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; rhe is just, she shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

q Ps. 119.1,5,6,9. Lu. 1.6. 2Co. 1.12. Ac. 24.16. 1Th. 2.10. 1Jn. 3.24; 2.6. r Hab. 2.4. Ro. 8.1,4. 1Co. 15.58. s ch. 20.11. Am. 5.4.

10¶If he beget a son that is a 2robber, a tshedder of blood, and 3that doeth the like to any one of these things ,

2Or, breaker up of an house.

3Or, that doeth to his brother besides any of these.

t Nu. 35.31.

11And that doeth not any of those duties , but even hath ueaten upon the mountains, and vdefiled his neighbour's wife,

u ch. 6.13; 16.16,24; 22.9; 20.28. Ex. 34.15. 1Co. 10.20,21. v He. 13.4. Job 31.9-12.

12Hath woppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and xhath lifted up his eyes to the idols, yhath committed abomination,

w 1Co. 6.9,10; 5.11. Is. 5.7. Am. 5.11. Mi. 2.2,3; 3.2,3. Zep. 3.3. Ja. 5.4. Job 22.6; 24.3-9. Am. 2.8. ch. 22.29. x De. 4.19. Job 31.1,9,26,27. ch. 8.16. Ps. 121.1; 123.1,2. y ch. 8.6,17.

13Hath zgiven forth upon *usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; ahe shall surely die; his 4blood shall be upon him.

*usury-interest on money lent.

4Heb. bloods. Le. 20.9,11. Ac. 18.6. ch. 33.4; 3.18.

z Ne. 5.1-7. Ex. 22.25. Le. 25.35-37. a v.4. Is. 3.11. Ps. 140.11; 9.16. Ro. 2.8,9; 6.23.

14¶Now, lo, if he beget a son, bthat seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and cconsidereth, and doeth not such like,

b 2Ch. 29; 34. Ec. 5.8,13. Ps. 119.59,60. Ho. 7.2. Je. 9.14; 44.17. ch. 20.18. 1Pe. 1.18. c v.28.

15That hath not deaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, ehath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

d v.6. ch. 6.13; 16.16,24; 20.6,28. 1Co. 10.20,21. Job 31.26,27. ch. 8.16. e Ex. 20.14. Le. 18.20. He. 13.4.

16fNeither hath oppressed any, 5hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath gspoiled by violence, but hhath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

5Heb. hath not pledged the pledge or, taken to pledge. Ex. 22.26. De. 24.6-17. Job 22.6; 24.3-9. ch. 33.15.

f Ex. 22.21. Le. 19.15; 25.14. g Is. 5.7. Am. 5.12. Mi. 2.2; 3.2,3. h Mat. 25.35,36. Job 31.16-20. Ja. 2.16. Jn. 3.17. Is. 58.7.

17That ihath taken off his hand from the poor, that jhath not received *usury nor increase, khath executed my judgments, lhath walked in my statutes; mhe shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

*usury-interest on money lent.

i v.8. Lu. 7.42. Ps. 41.1. Pr. 14.21,31; 29.7,14. Is. 58.7. Job 9.33. j Ps. 15.5. Ex. 22.25. Le. 25.35-37. Ne. 5.1-7. Je. 15.10. k Zec. 8.16. Mat. 7.12. l Lu. 1.6. Ge. 5.24. m Is. 3.10. Ro. 2.7,10.

18As for his father, nbecause he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall odie in his iniquity.

n Is. 3.11. Ro. 2.8,9. v.4,20. o Jn. 8.24. ch. 3.18.

19¶Yet say ye, Why? pdoth 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.

p Ex. 20.5. 2Ki. 23.26; 24.3,4. De. 5.9.

20The qsoul 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.

q De. 24.16. 2Ki. 14.5,6. 2Ch. 25.4. Je. 31.29,30. v.3,4,13. Is. 1.19,20; 3.10,11. Ro. 2.7-10. 2Th. 1.6-10. Re. 2.23; 20.12; 22.12-15.

21But rif the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and skeep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

r Pr. 28.13. ch. 33.11-16. v.30. Is. 55.7. Ac. 2.38,39; 3.19; 8.22. Mat. 9.13. 1Ti. 1.13,15,16. s Ja. 2.14-26.

22All this transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not ube mentioned unto him: vin his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

t ch. 33.16. Ps. 32.1,2; 25.11,18. Is. 1.18; 43.25; 44.22; 55.7. Je. 31.34; 33.8. Ep. 1.7. 2Co. 5.21. 1Jn. 1.7. Col. 1.14. u Ps. 103.12. Ro. 8.1. v Ro. 8.13. Re. 22.14. Ga. 6.7,8. Ps. 19.11. 1Co. 15.58. Re. 2.10.

23wHave 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?

w ch. 33.11,14. v.32. Ho. 11.8. 2Pe. 3.9. 1Ti. 2.4,6. La. 3.33. Is. 5.4.

24¶But xwhen the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to yall the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? zAll 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.

*trespass-sin, transgression.

x ch. 3.20; 33.12,13,18. Mat. 23.28. Lu. 18.9. v.5-9,14-17. 2Pe. 2.20. He. 6.4-6; 10.26,27,38. Jn. 8.34. 1Jn. 3.9. y v.10-13. Ro. 1.28-31. z 2Jn. 8. 2Pe. 2.21. He. 10.38. Mat. 12.43-45. Pr. 14.14.

25¶Yet ye say, aThe way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; bIs not my way equal? care not your ways unequal?

a ch. 33.17,20. v.29. Mal. 3.14. Jude 16. Ps. 50.21. b Ge. 18.25. De. 32.4. Ps. 145.17. Zep. 3.5. Ja. 1.13. Hab. 1.13. c Ro. 3.10-20. ch. 8; 16; 20-24. Is. 1; 5; 59. Je. 2-18. Zep. 3.

26dWhen 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.

d v.24. 2Pe. 2.20-22. He. 10.38. Pr. 14.14. Je. 2.13,19; 4.18. Is. 3.11.

27Again, ewhen 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.

e Is. 1.18; 55.7. Ho. 14.1-3,8. Je. 3.13,14,22. Mat. 9.13. Ac. 3.19; 8.22; 2.38; 20.21.

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

f v.14. Ps. 119.59. Je. 31.18-20; 3.12-14. v.30. Lu. 15.17,18.

29Yet gsaith 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?

g v.2,25. Ps. 50.21. Pr. 19.3.

30Therefore hI will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. iRepent, and turn 6yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

6Or, others. Ps. 51.13. Lu. 22.32.

h Re. 22.12; 20.12. Ec. 12.14. ch. 7.3,8,9; 14.4,7,10,14,20; 33.20. i Mat. 3.2; 4.17. Lu. 13.3,5. Ac. 3.19; 8.22; 20.21. Is. 55.7; 1.18. Je. 31.18-20. Re. 2.5; 3.19.

31jCast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a knew heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

j Ps. 34.14. Is. 1.16. Ep. 4.22,23. Col. 3.5,9,10. Ro. 8.13. Phi. 2.12,13. Je. 31.18,19. k Je. 32.39. ch. 11.19; 36.26. Ep. 4.23; 2.10. 2Co. 5.17. Ga. 5.6; 6.15. Ps. 51.10.

32For lI have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore mturn 7yourselves , and live ye.

7Or, others. Ps. 51.13. Lu. 22.32.

l ch. 33.11. v.23. 2Pe. 3.9. 1Ti. 2.4. Ho. 11.8. La. 3.33. m Is. 1.18; 45.22; 55.7. Lu. 15.18. Ac. 2.38,39; 3.19; 8.22.