The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you¹ mean by repeating this ^vproverb concerning the land of Israel, ^w‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, declares the Lord God, ^xthis proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: ^ythe soul who sins shall die.

25 “Yet you say, ^q‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one ^raccording to his ways, declares the Lord God. ^sRepent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.¹ 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a ^tnew heart and a new spirit! ^uWhy will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”