1Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,
2"What do you mean by using this saying in the land of Israel: 'The parents ate sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
3"As surely as I live," says the Lord Yahweh, "you will not use this saying in Israel anymore.
4Look, all lives belong to me; the father's life and the son's life both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
5"But if a man is fair and does what is lawful and right,
6and has not eaten sacrifices at the mountain shrines, nor looked to the idols of Israel, nor had sex with his neighbor's wife, nor approached a woman during her period,
7and has not cheated anyone, but has returned security for a loan to the borrower, has not robbed anyone, has given his food to the hungry, and clothed the naked;
8who has not lent money with interest or taken excessive profit, has kept his hand from wrongdoing, and has judged fairly between people,
9has followed my rules and kept my laws by acting truthfully; he is fair, and he will certainly live," says the Lord Yahweh.
10"But if he has a son who is a robber, who kills people, and who does any of these things—
11even though the father did none of these things—but the son eats at the mountain shrines and has sex with his neighbor's wife,
12has cheated the poor and needy, has robbed, has not returned security for a loan, has looked to idols, has committed detestable acts,
13has lent money with interest and taken excessive profit—will such a son live? No, he will not live. He has done all these detestable things. He will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.
14"Now look, if he has a son, who sees all the sins his father committed, yet is afraid and does not do similar things;
15who has not eaten at the mountain shrines, nor looked to the idols of Israel, nor had sex with his neighbor's wife,
16nor cheated anyone, nor taken anything as security for a loan, nor robbed anyone, but has given his food to the hungry and clothed the naked;
17who has kept his hand from harming the poor, who has not taken interest or excessive profit, has followed my laws, and walked in my rules; he will not die for his father's wrongdoings; he will certainly live.
18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, he will die for his own wrongdoing.
19"Yet you ask, 'Why shouldn't the son pay for the father's wrongdoing?' If the son does what is lawful and right, keeps all my rules, and follows them, he will certainly live.
20The person who sins is the one who will die. The son will not pay for the father's wrongdoing, nor will the father pay for the son's wrongdoing. The righteous person will be credited with their own righteousness, and the wicked person will be blamed for their own wickedness.
21"But if a wicked person turns from all the sins they have committed, keeps all my rules, and does what is lawful and right, they will certainly live; they will not die."
22None of the wrong things he did will be remembered against him. He will live because of the righteous things he did.
23“Do I enjoy seeing wicked people die?” asks the Lord Yahweh. “No, I would rather see them turn from their evil ways and live.
24“But if a righteous person turns away from doing right, and acts wickedly, doing all the detestable things that evil people do, will they live? None of the good things they did will be remembered. They will die because of the unfaithful and sinful things they did.”
25“Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair.’ Listen now, people of Israel: Is my way not fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?
26When a righteous person turns away from being righteous, and acts wickedly, and dies because of it, they will die because of the wickedness they committed.
27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they committed, and does what is lawful and right, they will save their life.
28Because they think about it and turn away from all the wrong things they did, they will certainly live. They will not die.
29Yet the people of Israel say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair.’ People of Israel, are my ways not fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?
30“Therefore, I will judge each of you, people of Israel, according to your actions,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Turn and change your ways from all the wrong things you have done, so that your sin will not lead to your ruin.
31Get rid of all the wrong things you have done. Get new hearts and new spirits. Why should you die, people of Israel?
32For I do not enjoy seeing anyone die,” says the Lord Yahweh. “So turn and live!