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<!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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ezekiel 18 ISV</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="../">ISV</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">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/ezekiel/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">The Outdated Proverb</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>This 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 cite this proverb when you talk about Israel’s land: ‘The fathers eat sour grapes but it’s their children’s teeth that have become numb.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>As long as I live,” declares the LORD, “you won’t use this proverb about Israel anymore. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Look! Every living soul belongs to me—the father’s as well as the son’s.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:4 Lit. As the soul of the father, so the soul of the son belongs to me.">a</a></span> So pay attention! The person who keeps on sinning is going to die.”</p> <p class="heading">Standards of Righteous Behavior</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“If a person is righteous, and practices what’s lawful and right, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>if he doesn’t eat at mountain shrines, and doesn’t look to the idols that have been erected in Israel’s house, if he doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her time of menstrual separation, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>if he doesn’t oppress anyone, but instead returns the debtor’s security for his debt, if he doesn’t rob anyone, but instead shares his food with the hungry and gives clothes to those who are naked, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>if he doesn’t lend with usury or exact interest, but instead refuses to participate in<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:8 Lit. instead withdraws his hand from">b</a></span> what is unjust, if he administers true justice between people,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:8 Lit. between man and man">c</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>if he lives his life<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:9 Lit. he walks">d</a></span> consistent with my statutes and keeps my ordinances by practicing what’s true, then he’s righteous and will certainly live,” declares the Lord GOD.</p> <p class="heading">Standards of Unrighteous Behavior</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>“Now suppose that person produces a son who’s violent, a murderer, and practices any of these things, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>even though the father<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:11 Lit. though he">e</a></span> hasn’t done any of these things. The son who eats at mountain shrines, defiles his neighbor’s wife, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>oppresses the afflicted and the poor, robs others, doesn’t return security for a debt, looks to idols, does detestable things, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>loans with usury, and exacts interest; will he live? He certainly will not! He has done all these detestable practices. He will certainly die, and his guilt will be his own fault.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:13 Lit. his blood will be on him">f</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">Personal Accountability for Sin</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“Now suppose that he produced a son who practiced all of his father’s sins, but then that son<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:14 The Heb. lacks that son">g</a></span> began to fear me and stopped doing all of these things. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>That is, suppose he doesn’t eat at the mountain shrines, doesn’t look to the idols of Israel’s house, doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>doesn’t oppress anyone, doesn’t take possession of a debtor’s pledge, or doesn’t steal, but instead shares his food with the hungry, gives clothes to those who are naked, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>doesn’t refuse to help the afflicted, or refuses to loan with usury or exact interest, but instead follows my ordinances and lives his life consistent with my statutes. He won’t die because of his father’s sin, will he? No! He’ll certainly live. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>As for his father, watch out! If he wrongfully oppressed or robbed his brother and did what wasn’t good among his people, he’ll die because of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:18 Lit. die in">h</a></span> his own sin.”</p> <p class="heading">The Person who Sins will Die</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“Yet you keep asking, ‘Why wouldn’t the son bear the punishment of his father’s sin?’ Because the son has done what was lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes and obeyed them, he’s certainly going to live. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The soul who sins dies. The son won’t bear the punishment of his father’s sin and the father won’t bear the punishment of his son’s sin. The righteous deeds of that righteous person will be attributed to him, while the wicked deeds of the wicked person will be charged against him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But if the wicked person turns from all his sins, which he did and keeps my statutes, then he’ll live. He won’t die. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>None of the transgressions that he had committed will be held<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:22 Lit. remembered">i</a></span> against him. Because of the righteous deeds that he had done, he’ll live.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>“I don’t take delight in the death of the wicked, do I?” asks the Lord GOD. “Shouldn’t I rather delight<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:23 The Heb. lacks shouldn’t I rather delight">j</a></span> when he turns from his wicked ways and lives? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he won’t live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. He’ll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed.”</p> <p class="heading">Accusing God of Unrighteousness</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“Yet you keep saying, ‘The LORD isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Pay attention, you house of Israel: Is my behavior really inconsistent with my standards? Isn’t it your behavior that isn’t just?</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“When a righteous person turns from his righteous deeds and does evil, he’ll die because of that evil. He’ll die because of his unrighteous acts that he committed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>When a wicked person quits<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:27 Or abandons">k</a></span> his wicked behavior<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:27 Lit. ways that he had committed">l</a></span> and does what’s just and right, he’ll be enabled to live.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:27 Lit. he makes his soul come alive">m</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Because he reconsidered his transgression and turned away from everything that he had been doing, he’ll certainly live and not die. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Yet Israel’s house keeps saying, ‘The LORD isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Is it my behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:29 The Heb. has adjusted to the standard">n</a></span> Is it not your behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:29 The Heb. has adjusted to the standard">o</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">A Command to Repent</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>“Therefore, Israel, I’m going to judge you according to the behavior of each and every one of you,” declares the Lord GOD. “So repent and turn from all your sins so that sin won’t keep on being a stumbling block for you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Stop your transgressing—the deeds by which you’ve rebelled—and then make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, you house of Israel? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/18-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>I don’t take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the LORD. “So repent, so you may live!”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 18:4 Lit. <i>As the soul of the father, so the soul of the son belongs to me</i>.<br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 18:8 Lit. <i>instead withdraws his hand from</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 18:8 Lit. <i>between man and man</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 18:9 Lit. <i>he walks</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 18:11 Lit. <i>though he</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 18:13 Lit. <i>his blood will be on him</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 18:14 The Heb. lacks <i>that son</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 18:18 Lit. <i>die in</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 18:22 Lit. <i>remembered</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 18:23 The Heb. lacks <i>shouldn’t I rather delight</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 18:27 Or <i>abandons</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 18:27 Lit. <i>ways that he had committed</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 18:27 Lit. <i>he makes his soul come alive</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 18:29 The Heb. has <i>adjusted to the standard</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 18:29 The Heb. has <i>adjusted to the standard</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<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></td></tr></table></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"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>