New American Standard Bible 1995

Ezekiel 18

God Deals Justly with Individuals

1Then the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to me, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Whatמַה־mah-H4100do you mean by usingמֹֽשְׁלִים֙mo.she.LimH4911thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088proverbהַמָּשָׁ֣לha.ma.ShalH4912concerningעַל־'al-H5921the landאַדְמַ֥ת'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘The fathersאָבוֹת֙'a.VotH1eatיֹ֣אכְלוּYo.khe.luH398the sourבֹ֔סֶרVo.serH1155grapesH1155,But the children’sהַבָּנִ֖יםha.ba.NimH1121teethוְשִׁנֵּ֥יve.shi.NeiH8127are setH6949on edgeH6949’?

3As I liveחַי־chai-H2416,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GodH3068, “you are surelyאִם־'im-H518not going to useמְשֹׁ֛לme.SholH4911thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088proverbהַמָּשָׁ֥לha.ma.ShalH4912in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478anymoreע֗וֹדodH5750.

4Beholdהֵ֤ןhenH2005,allכָּל־kol-H3605soulsהַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ha.ne.fa.shOtH5315are Mine; thesoulכְּנֶ֧פֶשׁke.Ne.feshH5315of the fatherהָאָ֛בha.'AvH1as well as thesoulוּכְנֶ֥פֶשׁu.khe.Ne.feshH5315of the sonהַבֵּ֖ןha.BenH1121is Mine. Thesoulהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315whosinsהַחֹטֵ֖אתha.cho.TetH2398will dieתָמֽוּת׃ סta.MutH4191.

5“But ifכִּי־ki-H3588a manוְאִ֖ישׁve.'IshH376is righteousצַדִּ֑יקtza.DikH6662and practicesוְעָשָׂ֥הve.'a.SahH6213justiceמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and righteousnessוּצְדָקָֽה׃u.tze.da.KahH6666,

6and does noteatאָכָ֔ל'a.KhalH398at the mountainהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022shrines orliftנָשָׂ֔אna.Sa'H5375up his eyesוְעֵינָיו֙ve.'ei.NavH5869to the idolsגִּלּוּלֵ֖יgi.lu.LeiH1544of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478, ordefileטִמֵּ֔אti.Me'H2930his neighbor’sרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙re.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802or approachיִקְרָֽב׃yik.RavH7126a womanאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802during her menstrualH5079periodH5079--

7if a manוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376does not oppressיוֹנֶ֔הyo.NehH3238anyone, butrestoresיָשִׁ֔יבya.ShivH7725to the debtorחוֹב֙chOvH2326his pledgeH2260,does not commitיִגְזֹ֑לyig.ZolH1497robberyגְּזֵלָ֖הge.ze.LahH1500, butgivesיִתֵּ֔ןyi.TenH5414his breadלַחְמוֹ֙lach.MoH3899to the hungryלְרָעֵ֣בle.ra.'EvH7457and coversיְכַסֶּה־ye.kha.seh-H3680the nakedוְעֵירֹ֖םve.'ei.RomH5903with clothingבָּֽגֶד׃Ba.gedH899,

8if he does not lendיִתֵּ֗ןyi.TenH5414money oninterestבַּנֶּ֣שֶׁךְba.Ne.shekhH5392or takeיִקָּ֔חyi.KachH3947increaseוְתַרְבִּית֙ve.tar.BitH8636, ifhe keepsיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027from iniquityמֵעָ֖וֶלme.'A.velH5766andexecutesיַֽעֲשֶׂ֔הya.'a.SehH6213trueאֱמֶת֙'e.MetH571justiceמִשְׁפַּ֤טmish.PatH4941betweenבֵּ֥יןbeinH996manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376and manלְאִֽישׁ׃le.'IshH376,

9ifhe walksיְהַלֵּ֛ךְye.ha.LekhH1980inMy statutesבְּחֻקּוֹתַ֧יbe.chu.ko.TaiH2708and My ordinancesוּמִשְׁפָּטַ֥יu.mish.pa.TaiH4941so as to dealלַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla.'a.SotH6213faithfullyאֱמֶ֑ת'e.MetH571--he is righteousצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662andwill surelyחָיֹ֣הcha.YohH2421liveיִֽחְיֶ֔הyich.YehH2421,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068.

10“Then he mayhaveוְהוֹלִ֥ידve.ho.LidH3205a violentפָּרִ֖יץpa.RitzH6530sonבֵּן־ben-H1121who shedsשֹׁפֵ֣ךְsho.FekhH8210bloodדָּ֑םDamH1818and who doesוְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213anyמֵאַחַ֖דme.'a.ChadH4480 H259of theseH428thingsמֵאֵֽלֶּה׃me.'E.lehH428to a brotherH251

11(though he himselfוְה֕וּאve.Hu'H1931did not doעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213anyכָּל־kol-H3605of theseH428thingsאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428),that is, he evenגַ֤םgamH1571eatsאָכַ֔ל'a.KhalH398at the mountainהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022shrines, anddefilesטִמֵּֽא׃ti.Me'H2930his neighbor’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,

12oppressesהוֹנָ֔הho.NahH3238thepoorעָנִ֤י'a.NiH6041and needyוְאֶבְיוֹן֙ve.'ev.yOnH34,commitsגָּזָ֔לga.ZalH1497robberyגְּזֵל֣וֹתge.ze.LotH1500,does not restoreיָשִׁ֑יבya.ShivH7725a pledgeחֲבֹ֖לcha.VolH2258,but liftsנָשָׂ֣אna.Sa'H5375up his eyesעֵינָ֔יו'ei.NavH5869to the idolsהַגִּלּוּלִים֙ha.gi.lu.LimH1544andcommitsעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213abominationתּוֹעֵבָ֖הto.'e.VahH8441,

13helendsנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414moneyon interestבַּנֶּ֧שֶׁךְba.Ne.shekhH5392and takesלָקַ֖חla.KachH3947increaseוְתַרְבִּ֥יתve.tar.BitH8636;will he liveוָחָ֑יva.ChaiH2421?He will not liveיִֽחְיֶ֗הyich.YehH2421!He has committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ha.'E.lehH428abominationsהַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹתha.to.'e.VotH8441,he will surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191; hisbloodדָּמָ֖יוda.MavH1818will be on his own head.

14“Now beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009, hehasהוֹלִ֣ידho.LidH3205a sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121who has observedוַיַּ֕רְאvai.Yar'H7200allכָּל־kol-H3605his father’sאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1sinsחַטֹּ֥אתcha.TotH2403whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he committedעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213, andobservingוַיִּרְאֶ֕הvai.yir.'EhH7200does not doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213likewiseH2004.

15He does not eatאָכָ֔ל'a.KhalH398at the mountainהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022shrinesor liftנָשָׂ֔אna.Sa'H5375up his eyesוְעֵינָיו֙ve.'ei.NavH5869to the idolsגִּלּוּלֵ֖יgi.lu.LeiH1544of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,or defileטִמֵּֽא׃ti.Me'H2930his neighbor’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,

16or oppressהוֹנָ֔הho.NahH3238anyoneוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376,or retainחָבָ֔לcha.ValH2254a pledgeחֲבֹל֙cha.VolH2258,or commitגָזָ֑לga.ZalH1497robberyוּגְזֵלָ֖הu.ge.ze.LahH1500, but hegivesנָתָ֔ןna.TanH5414his breadלַחְמוֹ֙lach.MoH3899to the hungryלְרָעֵ֣בle.ra.'EvH7457and coversכִּסָּה־ki.sah-H3680the nakedוְעֵר֖וֹםve.'e.RomH5903with clothingבָֽגֶד׃Va.gedH899,

17he keepsהֵשִׁ֣יבhe.ShivH7725his handיָד֗וֹya.DoH3027fromthe poorמֵעָנִ֞יme.'a.NiH6041,does not takeלָקָ֔חla.KachH3947interestנֶ֤שֶׁךְNe.shekhH5392or increaseוְתַרְבִּית֙ve.tar.BitH8636, butexecutesעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213My ordinancesמִשְׁפָּטַ֣יmish.pa.TaiH4941,and walksהָלָ֑ךְha.LakhH1980in My statutesבְּחֻקּוֹתַ֖יbe.chu.ko.TaiH2708;he will not dieיָמ֛וּתya.MutH4191for his father’sאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֥ןba.'a.VonH5771,he will surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶֽה׃yich.YehH2421.

18As for his fatherאָבִ֞יו'a.VivH1,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588he practicedעָ֣שַׁק'A.shakH6231extortionעֹ֗שֶׁק'O.shekH6233,robbedגָּזַל֙ga.ZalH1497hisbrotherאָ֔ח'AchH251and didעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213whatוַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.SherH834was not goodט֛וֹבTovH2896amongבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432his peopleעַמָּ֑יו'a.MavH5971,beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,he will dieמֵ֖תmetH4191for his iniquityבַּעֲוֹנֽוֹ׃ba.'a.vo.NoH5771.

19“Yet you sayוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕םva.'a.mar.TemH559, ‘Whyמַדֻּ֛עַma.Du.a'H4069should the sonהַבֵּ֖ןha.BenH1121not bearנָשָׂ֥אna.Sa'H5375the punishmentH5771for the father’sהָאָ֑בha.'AvH1iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771?’When the sonוְהַבֵּ֞ןve.ha.BenH1121has practicedעָשָׂ֗ה'a.SahH6213justiceמִשְׁפָּ֧טmish.PatH4941and righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֣הu.tze.da.KahH6666and has observedשָׁמַ֛רsha.MarH8104allכָּל־kol-H3605My statutesחֻקּוֹתַ֥יchu.ko.TaiH2708and doneוַיַּעֲשֶׂ֥הvai.ya.'a.SehH6213them, he shall surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶֽה׃yich.YehH2421.

20The personהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315whosinsהַחֹטֵ֖אתha.cho.TetH2398will dieתָמ֑וּתta.MutH4191. Thesonבֵּ֞ןbenH1121will not bearיִשָּׂ֣א׀yi.Sa'H5375the punishmentH5771for the father’sהָאָ֗בha.'AvH1iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771,norH3808will the fatherוְאָב֙ve.'AvH1bearיִשָּׂא֙yi.Sa'H5375the punishmentH5771for the son’sהַבֵּ֔ןha.BenH1121iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771; therighteousnessצִדְקַ֤תtzid.KatH6666of the righteousהַצַּדִּיק֙ha.tza.DikH6662will be upon himself, and the wickednessוְרִשְׁעַ֥תve.rish.'AtH7564of the wickedהָרָשָׁ֖עha.ra.sha'H7563will be upon himself.

21“But ifכִּ֤יkiH3588thewickedוְהָרָשָׁ֗עve.ha.ra.Sha'H7563manH7563turnsיָשׁוּב֙ya.ShuvH7725from allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605his sinsחַטֹּאתָיו֙cha.ta.tovH2403whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he has committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213and observesוְשָׁמַר֙ve.sha.MarH8104allכָּל־kol-H3605My statutesחֻקּוֹתַ֔יchu.ko.TaiH2708and practicesוְעָשָׂ֥הve.'a.SahH6213justiceמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֑הu.tze.da.KahH6666,he shall surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421;he shall not dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

22Allכָּל־kol-H3605his transgressionsפְּשָׁעָיו֙pe.sha.'AvH6588whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he has committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213will not be rememberedיִזָּכְר֖וּyi.za.khe.RuH2142against him; because of hisrighteousnessבְּצִדְקָת֥וֹbe.tzid.ka.ToH6666whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he has practicedעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213,he will liveיִֽחְיֶֽה׃Yich.YehH2421.

23Do I haveH2654anyH2654pleasureH2654in the deathמ֣וֹתMotH4194of the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068, “ratherH3808thanH3808that he shouldturnבְּשׁוּב֥וֹbe.shu.VoH7725from his waysמִדְּרָכָ֖יוmi.de.ra.KhavH1870and liveוְחָיָֽה׃ סve.cha.YahH2421?

24“But when a righteousצַדִּ֤יקtza.DikH6662manH6662turnsH7725awayוּבְשׁ֨וּבu.ve.ShuvH7725from his righteousnessH6666,commitsוְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213iniquityעָ֔וֶל'A.velH5766and doesעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213according to allכְּכֹ֨לke.KholH3605the abominationsהַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹתha.to.'e.VotH8441that a wickedהָרָשָׁ֛עha.ra.Sha'H7563manH7563doesיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213,will he liveוָחָ֑יva.ChaiH2421?Allכָּל־kol-H3605his righteousH6666deedsH6666whichH834he has doneעָשָׂה֙'a.SahH6213will not be rememberedתִזָּכַ֔רְנָהti.za.Khar.nahH2142for histreacheryבְּמַעֲל֧וֹbe.ma.'a.LoH4604whichH834he has committedמָעַ֛לma.'AlH4603and his sinוּבְחַטָּאת֥וֹu.ve.cha.ta.ToH2403whichH834he has committedחָטָ֖אcha.Ta'H2398;for them he will dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

25Yet you sayוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕םva.'a.mar.TemH559, ‘The wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136is not rightיִתָּכֵ֖ןyi.ta.KhenH8505.’Hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085nowנָא֙na'H4994,O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478! IsMy wayהֲדַרְכִּי֙ha.dar.KiH1870not rightיִתָּכֵ֔ןyi.ta.KhenH8505?Is it not your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870that are not rightיִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃yi.ta.Khe.nuH8505?

26When a righteousצַדִּ֧יקtza.DikH6662manH6662turnsH7725awayבְּשׁוּב־be.shuv-H7725from his righteousnessמִצִּדְקָת֛וֹmi.tzid.ka.ToH6666,commitsוְעָ֥שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213iniquityעָ֖וֶל'A.velH5766and diesוּמֵ֣תu.MetH4191becauseעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם'a.lei.HemH5921of it, for his iniquityבְּעַוְל֥וֹbe.'av.LoH5766whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he has committedעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213he will dieיָמֽוּת׃ סya.MutH4191.

27Again, when a wickedרָשָׁ֗עra.Sha'H7563manH7563turnsH7725awayוּבְשׁ֣וּבu.ve.ShuvH7725from his wickednessמֵֽרִשְׁעָתוֹ֙me.rish.'a.ToH7564whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he has committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213and practicesוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213justiceמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֑הu.tze.da.KahH6666,he will saveיְחַיֶּֽה׃ye.chai.YehH2421his lifeנַפְשׁ֥וֹnaf.ShoH5315.

28Because he consideredוַיִּרְאֶ֣הvai.yir.'EhH7200and turnedH7725awayוַיָּ֔שָׁבvai.ya.shovH7725from allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605his transgressionsפְּשָׁעָ֖יוpe.sha.'AvH6588whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he had committedעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213,he shall surelyחָי֥וֹcha.YoH2421liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421;he shall not dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

29But the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478saysוְאָֽמְרוּ֙ve.'a.me.RuH559, ‘The wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136is not rightיִתָּכֵ֖ןyi.ta.KhenH8505.’Are My waysהַדְּרָכַ֞יha.de.ra.KhaiH1870not rightיִתָּֽכְנּוּ֙yi.ta.khe.NuH8505,O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478?Is it not your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870that are not rightיִתָּכֵֽן׃yi.ta.KhenH8505?

30“Thereforeלָכֵן֩la.KhenH3651I will judgeאֶשְׁפֹּ֤ט'esh.PotH8199you, O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,eachאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376according to his conductכִּדְרָכָ֜יוkid.ra.KhavH1870,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068. “RepentH7725and turnשׁ֤וּבוּShu.vuH7725awayוְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ve.ha.Shi.vuH7725from allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔םpish.'ei.KhemH6588,so that iniquityעָוֹֽן׃'a.VonH5771may not becomeיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a stumblingלְמִכְשׁ֖וֹלle.mikh.SholH4383blockH4383to you.

31CastH7993awayהַשְׁלִ֣יכוּhash.Li.khuH7993from you allכָּל־kol-H3605your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙pish.'ei.KhemH6588whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you have committedפְּשַׁעְתֶּ֣םpe.sha'.TemH6586and makeוַעֲשׂ֥וּva.'a.SuH6213yourselves anewחָדָ֖שׁcha.DashH2319heartלֵ֥בlevH3820and a newחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.ShahH2319spiritוְר֣וּחַve.Ru.achH7307!For whyוְלָ֥מָּהve.La.mahH4100will you dieתָמֻ֖תוּta.Mu.tuH4191,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

32For I haveH2654noלֹ֤אlo'H3808pleasureאֶחְפֹּץ֙'ech.PotzH2654in the deathבְּמ֣וֹתbe.MotH4194of anyone who diesהַמֵּ֔תha.MetH4191,”declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068. “Therefore, repentוְהָשִׁ֖יבוּve.ha.Shi.vuH7725and liveוִֽחְיֽוּ׃ פVich.YuH2421.”

God Deals Justly with Individuals

Commentaries on Ezekiel 18