CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 18 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezekiel/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/ezekiel/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Ezekiel 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/17.htm" title="Ezekiel 17">◄</a> Ezekiel 18 <a href="../ezekiel/19.htm" title="Ezekiel 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/ezekiel/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">The Justice of a Righteous God</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then another message came to me from the LORD: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>“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’? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>He helps the poor,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“‘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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>“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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“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? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>“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! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>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? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">18:6 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew term (literally </span><span class="it">round things</span><span class="ft">) probably alludes to dung; also in 18:12, 15.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">18:17 </span><span class="ft">Greek version reads </span><span class="it">He refuses to do evil.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../ezekiel/17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ezekiel/19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/ezekiel/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>