Ezekiel

Contains visions and prophecies of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations.

Chapter 18

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

*The LORD's message came to me once more, saying,

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?

*Why do you use this saying about the land of Israel? It goes like this: "The parents ate sour grapes, and now the children's teeth ache."

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

*"I swear," says the Lord God, "you won't need to use that saying anymore 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.

*Look, every spirit belongs to me. Just like a father's spirit, so is the spirit of his child mine: the spirit that does wrong will die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

*But if someone is fair and does what's proper and good,

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,

*And hasn't eaten on mountains, didn't look at the idols of Israel's house, didn't harm his neighbor's wife, and stayed away from a bleeding 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;

*And hasn't hurt anyone, but has returned what was borrowed to those who owed money. Hasn't taken anything forcefully, has given food to those who are hungry, and has covered people without clothes with a cloth.

8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

*He who hasn't charged interest or taken any extra money, and has stopped doing wrong things, has fairly judged between people.

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.

*If you follow my rules and obey my decisions, being honest and fair, you will be righteous and I promise you will live, says 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,

*If he has a son who steals and kills, and does similar actions to any of these,

11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,

*And whoever doesn't do their duties, but instead eats on mountains and seduces their neighbor'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,

*This person has mistreated the poor and those in need, caused harm through force, didn't return what was borrowed, looks up to false gods, and has done something very bad.

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.

*If someone takes extra money from loans and does many bad things, they won't live. They will die, and their actions will lead to their own death. Their blood is on them.

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,

*Now, if he has a son who sees all his father's wrongdoings and thinks about them, understanding their consequences, and does not repeat them.

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,

*Who hasn't eaten on the mountains or looked at the idols of Israel, and hasn't slept with a neighbor's wife, is clean.

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,

*This person has not mistreated anyone, hasn't kept someone's valuable item, didn't use force to take things, but instead gave food to those who were hungry and covered up those who were naked.

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.

*Whoever doesn't take from the poor and doesn't charge interest, follows my rules, and does what is right, will live and not face punishment for their father's wrongdoing.

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.

*His dad, since he was mean and hurt his brother using force, and did bad things others wouldn't do, will die because of his wrong actions.

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.

*Why do you ask if the son shouldn't be punished for the father's wrongdoing? If the son does what is right and follows all the rules, he will definitely live a good life.

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.

*The person who does wrong will die. A child won't pay for their parent's mistakes, nor will a parent pay for their child's mistakes. A good person's goodness is on them, and a bad person's badness is on them too.

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.

*But if a bad person stops doing all their wrong things and follows all my rules, doing what's good and fair, they will definitely live and won't 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.

*Any wrong things he did will be forgotten; he will continue to live because of the good things he has done.

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?

*Does it bring me joy for wicked people to die, asks the Lord God? Shouldn't I want them to change their ways and live instead?

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.

*If a good person stops being good and does bad things just like a bad person, will he live? None of the good things he did before will matter. He'll be judged by the wrong things he did and the sins he committed; for those, he will be punished.

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?

*"You say that God's path isn't fair. Listen, Israel family! Doesn't God's way truly

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.

*When a good person stops being good and does wrong things, and then dies because of those wrong actions, they will die for the bad things they did.

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.

*When a bad person stops doing wrong things and starts doing what's right, they can save their life.

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

*If he thinks about his mistakes and stops doing them, he will definitely live and won't 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?

*"However, the people of Israel say that God's path isn't fair. But, O Israel, aren't my ways actually fair? Aren't your ways unfair?"

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.

*So, the Lord God says that He will judge the people of Israel based on their actions. He tells them to repent and stop doing wrong things, or else their sins will lead to destruction.

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?

*Discard all your wrongdoings that you've committed; and create a new, clean heart and spirit within you. Why else would the people of Israel be dying?

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

*For I don't enjoy seeing someone die, says the Lord God. So, change your ways and live.

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