New King James Version

Ezekiel 18:11-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

11. And does none of those duties,But has eaten on the mountainsOr defiled his neighbor’s wife;

12. If he has oppressed the poor and needy,Robbed by violence,Not restored the pledge,Lifted his eyes to the idols,Or committed abomination;

13. If he has exacted usuryOr taken increase—Shall he then live?He shall not live!If he has done any of these abominations,He shall surely die;His blood shall be upon him.

14. “If, however, he begets a sonWho sees all the sins which his father has done,And considers but does not do likewise;

15. Who has not eaten on the mountains,Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;

16. Has not oppressed anyone,Nor withheld a pledge,Nor robbed by violence,But has given his bread to the hungryAnd covered the naked with clothing;

17. Who has withdrawn his hand from the poorAnd not received usury or increase,But has executed My judgmentsAnd walked in My statutes—He shall not die for the iniquity of his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,Robbed his brother by violence,And did what is not good among his people,Behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

19. “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.

20. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21. “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

22. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.

23. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?