Revised Literal Translation

Ezekiel 18

1The wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068came unto me again, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2What mean ye, that ye useמֹֽשְׁלִים֙mo.she.LimH4911this proverbהַמָּשָׁ֣לha.ma.ShalH4912concerning the landאַדְמַ֥ת'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,The fathersאָבוֹת֙'a.VotH1have eatenיֹ֣אכְלוּYo.khe.luH398sour grapesבֹ֔סֶרVo.serH1155,and the children’sהַבָּנִ֖יםha.ba.NimH1121teethוְשִׁנֵּ֥יve.shi.NeiH8127are set on edgeתִּקְהֶֽינָה׃tik.Hei.nahH6949?

3AsI liveחַי־chai-H2416,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֑הYah.wehH3069, ye shall not have occasionany more to useמְשֹׁ֛לme.SholH4911this proverbהַמָּשָׁ֥לha.ma.ShalH4912in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

4Behold, all soulsהַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ha.ne.fa.shOtH5315are mine; as the soulכְּנֶ֧פֶשׁke.Ne.feshH5315of the fatherהָאָ֛בha.'AvH1,so also the soulוּכְנֶ֥פֶשׁu.khe.Ne.feshH5315of the sonהַבֵּ֖ןha.BenH1121is mine: the soulהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315that sinnethהַחֹטֵ֖אתha.cho.TetH2398,it shall dieתָמֽוּת׃ סta.MutH4191.

5But if a manוְאִ֖ישׁve.'IshH376be justצַדִּ֑יקtza.DikH6662,and doוְעָשָׂ֥הve.'a.SahH6213that which is lawfulמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and rightוּצְדָקָֽה׃u.tze.da.KahH6666,

6Andhath not eatenאָכָ֔ל'a.KhalH398upon the mountainsהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022,neither hath lifted upנָשָׂ֔אna.Sa'H5375his eyesוְעֵינָיו֙ve.'ei.NavH5869to the idolsגִּלּוּלֵ֖יgi.lu.LeiH1544of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,neither hath defiledטִמֵּ֔אti.Me'H2930his neighbour’sרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙re.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802,neither hath come nearיִקְרָֽב׃yik.RavH7126to a menstruousנִדָּ֖הni.DahH5079womanאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802,

7And hath not oppressedיוֹנֶ֔הyo.NehH3238anyוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376, buthath restoredיָשִׁ֔יבya.ShivH7725to the debtorחוֹב֙chOvH2326his pledgeחֲבֹלָת֥וֹcha.vo.la.ToH2258,hath spoiledיִגְזֹ֑לyig.ZolH1497none by violenceגְּזֵלָ֖הge.ze.LahH1500,hath givenיִתֵּ֔ןyi.TenH5414his breadלַחְמוֹ֙lach.MoH3899to the hungryלְרָעֵ֣בle.ra.'EvH7457,and hath coveredיְכַסֶּה־ye.kha.seh-H3680the nakedוְעֵירֹ֖םve.'ei.RomH5903with a garmentבָּֽגֶד׃Ba.gedH899;

8He thathath not given forthיִתֵּ֗ןyi.TenH5414upon usuryבַּנֶּ֣שֶׁךְba.Ne.shekhH5392,neither hath takenיִקָּ֔חyi.KachH3947any increaseוְתַרְבִּית֙ve.tar.BitH8636, thathath withdrawnיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725his handיָד֑וֹya.DoH3027from iniquityמֵעָ֖וֶלme.'A.velH5766,hath executedיַֽעֲשֶׂ֔הya.'a.SehH6213trueאֱמֶת֙'e.MetH571judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֤טmish.PatH4941between manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376and manלְאִֽישׁ׃le.'IshH376,

9Hath walkedיְהַלֵּ֛ךְye.ha.LekhH1980in my statutesבְּחֻקּוֹתַ֧יbe.chu.ko.TaiH2708,and hath keptשָׁמַ֖רsha.MarH8104my judgmentsוּמִשְׁפָּטַ֥יu.mish.pa.TaiH4941,to dealלַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla.'a.SotH6213trulyאֱמֶ֑ת'e.MetH571; he isjustצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662,he shall surelyחָיֹ֣הcha.YohH2421liveיִֽחְיֶ֔הyich.YehH2421,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִֽה׃Yah.wehH3069.

10If he begetוְהוֹלִ֥ידve.ho.LidH3205a sonבֵּן־ben-H1121that isa robberפָּרִ֖יץpa.RitzH6530,a shedderשֹׁפֵ֣ךְsho.FekhH8210of bloodדָּ֑םDamH1818, and thatdoethוְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213the likeH251to anyoneמֵאַחַ֖דme.'a.ChadH259of these things,

11And that doethעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213not any of those duties,but even hath eatenאָכַ֔ל'a.KhalH398upon the mountainsהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022,and defiledטִמֵּֽא׃ti.Me'H2930his neighbour’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,

12Hath oppressedהוֹנָ֔הho.NahH3238the poorעָנִ֤י'a.NiH6041and needyוְאֶבְיוֹן֙ve.'ev.yOnH34,hath spoiledגָּזָ֔לga.ZalH1497by violenceגְּזֵל֣וֹתge.ze.LotH1500,hath not restoredיָשִׁ֑יבya.ShivH7725the pledgeחֲבֹ֖לcha.VolH2258,and hath lifted upנָשָׂ֣אna.Sa'H5375his eyesעֵינָ֔יו'ei.NavH5869to the idolsהַגִּלּוּלִים֙ha.gi.lu.LimH1544,hath committedעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213abominationתּוֹעֵבָ֖הto.'e.VahH8441,

13Hath given forthנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414upon usuryבַּנֶּ֧שֶׁךְba.Ne.shekhH5392,and hath takenלָקַ֖חla.KachH3947increaseוְתַרְבִּ֥יתve.tar.BitH8636:shall he then liveH2425?he shall not liveH2421:he hath doneעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213all these abominationsהַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹתha.to.'e.VotH8441;he shall surelyמ֣וֹתMotH4191dieיוּמָ֔תyu.MatH4191;his bloodדָּמָ֖יוda.MavH1818shall be upon him.

14Now, lo, ifhe begetהוֹלִ֣ידho.LidH3205a sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121,that seethוַיַּ֕רְאvai.Yar'H7200all his father’sאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1sinsחַטֹּ֥אתcha.TotH2403which he hath doneעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213,and considerethוַיִּרְאֶ֕הvai.yir.'EhH7200,and doethיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213not such likeH2004,

15Thathath not eatenאָכָ֔ל'a.KhalH398upon the mountainsהֶֽהָרִים֙he.ha.RimH2022,neither hath lifted upנָשָׂ֔אna.Sa'H5375his eyesוְעֵינָיו֙ve.'ei.NavH5869to the idolsגִּלּוּלֵ֖יgi.lu.LeiH1544of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,hath not defiledטִמֵּֽא׃ti.Me'H2930his neighbour’sרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,

16Neither hath oppressedהוֹנָ֔הho.NahH3238anyוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376,hath not withholdenחָבָ֔לcha.ValH2254the pledgeחֲבֹל֙cha.VolH2258,neither hath spoiledגָזָ֑לga.ZalH1497by violenceוּגְזֵלָ֖הu.ge.ze.LahH1500, buthath givenנָתָ֔ןna.TanH5414his breadלַחְמוֹ֙lach.MoH3899to the hungryלְרָעֵ֣בle.ra.'EvH7457,and hath coveredכִּסָּה־ki.sah-H3680the nakedוְעֵר֖וֹםve.'e.RomH5903with a garmentבָֽגֶד׃Va.gedH899,

17Thathath taken offהֵשִׁ֣יבhe.ShivH7725his handיָד֗וֹya.DoH3027from the poorמֵעָנִ֞יme.'a.NiH6041, thathath not receivedלָקָ֔חla.KachH3947usuryנֶ֤שֶׁךְNe.shekhH5392nor increaseוְתַרְבִּית֙ve.tar.BitH8636,hath executedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213my judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטַ֣יmish.pa.TaiH4941,hath walkedהָלָ֑ךְha.LakhH1980in my statutesבְּחֻקּוֹתַ֖יbe.chu.ko.TaiH2708;he shall not dieיָמ֛וּתya.MutH4191for the iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֥ןba.'a.VonH5771of his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1,he shall surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶֽה׃yich.YehH2421.

18As forhis fatherאָבִ֞יו'a.VivH1,because he cruellyעֹ֗שֶׁק'O.shekH6233oppressedעָ֣שַׁק'A.shakH6231,spoiledגָּזַל֙ga.ZalH1497his brotherאָ֔ח'AchH251by violenceH1499,and didעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213that which isnot goodט֛וֹבTovH2896amongבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432his peopleעַמָּ֑יו'a.MavH5971,lo, even he shall dieמֵ֖תmetH4191in his iniquityבַּעֲוֹנֽוֹ׃ba.'a.vo.NoH5771.

19Yet sayוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕םva.'a.mar.TemH559ye, Why? doth not the sonהַבֵּ֖ןha.BenH1121bearנָשָׂ֥אna.Sa'H5375the iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771of the fatherהָאָ֑בha.'AvH1?When the sonוְהַבֵּ֞ןve.ha.BenH1121hath doneעָשָׂ֗ה'a.SahH6213that which is lawfulמִשְׁפָּ֧טmish.PatH4941and rightוּצְדָקָ֣הu.tze.da.KahH6666, andhath keptשָׁמַ֛רsha.MarH8104all my statutesחֻקּוֹתַ֥יchu.ko.TaiH2708,and hath doneוַיַּעֲשֶׂ֥הvai.ya.'a.SehH6213them, he shall surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶֽה׃yich.YehH2421.

20The soulהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315that sinnethהַחֹטֵ֖אתha.cho.TetH2398,it shall dieתָמ֑וּתta.MutH4191.The sonבֵּ֞ןbenH1121shall not bearיִשָּׂ֣א׀yi.Sa'H5375the iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771of the fatherהָאָ֗בha.'AvH1,neither shall the fatherוְאָב֙ve.'AvH1bearיִשָּׂא֙yi.Sa'H5375the iniquityבַּעֲוֹ֣ןba.'a.VonH5771of the sonהַבֵּ֔ןha.BenH1121:the righteousnessצִדְקַ֤תtzid.KatH6666of the righteousהַצַּדִּיק֙ha.tza.DikH6662shall be upon him, and the wickednessוְרִשְׁעַ֥תve.rish.'AtH7564of the wickedהָרָשָׁ֖עha.ra.sha'H7563shall be upon him.

21But if the wickedוְהָרָשָׁ֗עve.ha.ra.Sha'H7563will turnיָשׁוּב֙ya.ShuvH7725from all his sinsחַטֹּאתָיו֙cha.ta.tovH2403that he hath committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and keepוְשָׁמַר֙ve.sha.MarH8104all my statutesחֻקּוֹתַ֔יchu.ko.TaiH2708,and doוְעָשָׂ֥הve.'a.SahH6213that which is lawfulמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and rightוּצְדָקָ֑הu.tze.da.KahH6666,he shall surelyחָיֹ֥הcha.YohH2421liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421,he shall not dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

22All his transgressionsפְּשָׁעָיו֙pe.sha.'AvH6588that he hath committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,they shall not be mentionedיִזָּכְר֖וּyi.za.khe.RuH2142unto him: in his righteousnessבְּצִדְקָת֥וֹbe.tzid.ka.ToH6666that he hath doneעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213he shall liveיִֽחְיֶֽה׃Yich.YehH2421.

23Have I any pleasureהֶחָפֹ֤ץhe.cha.FotzH2654at allאֶחְפֹּץ֙'ech.PotzH2654that the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563should dieמ֣וֹתMotH4194?saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֑הYah.wehH3069: andnot that he should returnבְּשׁוּב֥וֹbe.shu.VoH7725from his waysמִדְּרָכָ֖יוmi.de.ra.KhavH1870,and liveוְחָיָֽה׃ סve.cha.YahH2421?

24But when the righteousצַדִּ֤יקtza.DikH6662turneth awayוּבְשׁ֨וּבu.ve.ShuvH7725from his righteousnessמִצִּדְקָתוֹ֙mi.tzid.ka.ToH6666,and committethוְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213iniquityעָ֔וֶל'A.velH5766, anddoethעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213according to all the abominationsהַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹתha.to.'e.VotH8441that the wickedהָרָשָׁ֛עha.ra.Sha'H7563mandoethיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213,shall he liveH2425?All his righteousnessצִדְקֹתָ֤יוtzid.ka.tovH6666that he hath doneעָשָׂה֙'a.SahH6213shall not be mentionedתִזָּכַ֔רְנָהti.za.Khar.nahH2142:in his trespassמָעַ֛לma.'AlH4603that he hath trespassedבְּמַעֲל֧וֹbe.ma.'a.LoH4604,and in his sinוּבְחַטָּאת֥וֹu.ve.cha.ta.ToH2403that he hath sinnedחָטָ֖אcha.Ta'H2398,in them shall he dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

25Yet ye sayוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕םva.'a.mar.TemH559,The wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136is not equalיִתָּכֵ֖ןyi.ta.KhenH8505.Hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085now, O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478;Is not my wayהֲדַרְכִּי֙ha.dar.KiH1870equalיִתָּכֵ֔ןyi.ta.KhenH8505?are not your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870unequalיִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃yi.ta.Khe.nuH8505?

26When a righteousצַדִּ֧יקtza.DikH6662manturneth awayבְּשׁוּב־be.shuv-H7725from his righteousnessמִצִּדְקָת֛וֹmi.tzid.ka.ToH6666,and committethוְעָ֥שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213iniquityעָ֖וֶל'A.velH5766,and diethוּמֵ֣תu.MetH4191in them; for his iniquityבְּעַוְל֥וֹbe.'av.LoH5766that he hath doneעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213shall he dieיָמֽוּת׃ סya.MutH4191.

27Again, when the wickedרָשָׁ֗עra.Sha'H7563manturneth awayוּבְשׁ֣וּבu.ve.ShuvH7725from his wickednessמֵֽרִשְׁעָתוֹ֙me.rish.'a.ToH7564that he hath committedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and doethוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213that which is lawfulמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941and rightוּצְדָקָ֑הu.tze.da.KahH6666,he shall saveH2421his soulנַפְשׁ֥וֹnaf.ShoH5315aliveיְחַיֶּֽה׃ye.chai.YehH2421.

28Because he considerethוַיִּרְאֶ֣הvai.yir.'EhH7200,and turneth awayוַיָּ֔שָׁבvai.ya.shovH7725from all his transgressionsפְּשָׁעָ֖יוpe.sha.'AvH6588that he hath committedעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213,he shall surelyחָי֥וֹcha.YoH2421liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421,he shall not dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

29Yet saithוְאָֽמְרוּ֙ve.'a.me.RuH559the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,The wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136is not equalיִתָּכֵ֖ןyi.ta.KhenH8505.O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,are not my waysהַדְּרָכַ֞יha.de.ra.KhaiH1870equalיִתָּֽכְנּוּ֙yi.ta.khe.NuH8505?are not your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870unequalיִתָּכֵֽן׃yi.ta.KhenH8505?

30Therefore I will judgeאֶשְׁפֹּ֤ט'esh.PotH8199you, O houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,every oneאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376according to his waysכִּדְרָכָ֜יוkid.ra.KhavH1870,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֑הYah.wehH3069.Repentשׁ֤וּבוּShu.vuH7725,and turnוְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ve.ha.Shi.vuH7725yourselvesfrom all your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔םpish.'ei.KhemH6588;so iniquityעָוֹֽן׃'a.VonH5771shall not be your ruinלְמִכְשׁ֖וֹלle.mikh.SholH4383.

31Cast awayהַשְׁלִ֣יכוּhash.Li.khuH7993from you all your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙pish.'ei.KhemH6588,whereby ye have transgressedפְּשַׁעְתֶּ֣םpe.sha'.TemH6586;and makeוַעֲשׂ֥וּva.'a.SuH6213you a newחָדָ֖שׁcha.DashH2319heartלֵ֥בlevH3820and a newחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.ShahH2319spiritוְר֣וּחַve.Ru.achH7307:for why will ye dieתָמֻ֖תוּta.Mu.tuH4191,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

32For I have no pleasureאֶחְפֹּץ֙'ech.PotzH2654in the deathבְּמ֣וֹתbe.MotH4194of him that diethהַמֵּ֔תha.MetH4191,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֑הYah.wehH3069:wherefore turnוְהָשִׁ֖יבוּve.ha.Shi.vuH7725yourselves,and liveוִֽחְיֽוּ׃ פVich.YuH2421ye.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 18