2 What mean ye that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel saying The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge
3 As I live saith the Lord GOD ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel 4 Behold all souls are mine as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine the soul that sinneth it shall die
5 But if a man be just and do that which is lawful and right 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife neither hath come near to a menstruous woman 7 And hath not oppressed any but hath restored to the debtor his pledge hath spoiled none by violence hath given his bread to the hungry and hath covered the naked with a garment 8 He that hath not given forth upon usury neither hath taken any increase that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity hath executed true. judgment between man and man 9 Hath walked in my statutes and hath kept my judgments to deal truly he is just he shall surely live saith the Lord GOD
10 If he beget a son that is a robber a shedder of blood and that doeth the like to any one of these things 11 And that doeth not any of those duties but even hath eaten upon the mountains and defiled his neighbour's wife 12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy hath spoiled by violence hath not restored the pledge and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols hath committed abomination 13 Hath given forth upon usury and hath taken increase shall he then live he shall not live he hath done all these abominations he shall surely die his blood shall be upon him
14 Now lo if he beget a son that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done and considereth and doeth not such like 15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel hath not defiled his neighbour's wife 16 Neither hath oppressed any hath not withholden the pledge neither hath spoiled by violence but hath given his bread to the hungry and hath covered the naked with a garment 17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor that hath not received usury nor increase hath executed my judgments hath walked in my statutes he shall not die for the iniquity of his father he shall surely live 18 As for his father because he cruelly oppressed spoiled his brother by violence and did that which is not good among his people lo even he shall die in his iniquity
19 Yet say ye Why doth 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 20 The soul 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
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live 23 Have 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
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth shall he live All 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 25 Yet ye say The way of the Lord is not equal Hear now O house of Israel Is not my way equal are not your ways unequal 26 When 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 27 Again when 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 28 Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed he shall surely live he shall not die 29 Yet saith 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
30 Therefore I will judge you O house of Israel every one according to his ways saith the Lord GOD Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruin 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord GOD wherefore turn yourselves and live ye
