12. has oppressed the poor and needy,has devastated by violence,has not restored the pledge,and has lifted up his eyes to the idols,has committed abomination,
13. has lent at interest, and has taken increase, shall he then live?He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood shall be upon his own head.
14. Now if he begets a son who sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and considering does not do likewise:
15. He has not eaten on the mountain shrines,nor has he lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,has not defiled his neighbor’s wife;
16. nor has he oppressed anyone,has not withheld a pledge,nor has he devastated by violence,but has given his bread to the hungry,and has covered the naked with a garment;
17. he keeps his hand from the poor,has not received usury nor increase,has executed My judgments, and has 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, devastated his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, he shall die for his iniquity.
19. Yet you say, “Why should the son not bear the punishment of the iniquity of the father?” When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.
20. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the punishment of the iniquity of the father, nor shall the father bear the punishment of the iniquity 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 the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all My statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
22. All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be remembered against him. Because of his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.
23. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, but rather that he should turn from his ways and live?
24. But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered for his trespass that he has committed and in his sin that he has done. In them he shall die.
25. Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is not right.” Hear now, O house of Israel. Is not My way right? Are not your ways not right?
26. When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he dies in it. For his iniquity that he has done he shall die.
27. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul.
28. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
29. Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not right.” O house of Israel, are not My ways right? Are not your ways not right?
30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent, and turn away from all your transgressions so that iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O house of Israel?