Ezekiel 18:9-13

The Message

^5-9“Imagine a person who lives well, treating others fairly, keeping good relationships—

doesn’t eat at the pagan shrines,

doesn’t worship the idols so popular in Israel,

doesn’t seduce a neighbor’s spouse,

doesn’t indulge in casual sex,

doesn’t bully anyone,

doesn’t pile up bad debts,

doesn’t steal,

doesn’t refuse food to the hungry,

doesn’t refuse clothing to the ill-clad,

doesn’t exploit the poor,

doesn’t live by impulse and greed,

doesn’t treat one person better than another,

But lives by my statutes and faithfully

honors and obeys my laws.

This person who lives upright and well

shall live a full and true life.

Decree of God, the Master.

^10-13“But if this person has a child who turns violent and murders and goes off and does any of these things, even though the parent has done none of them—

eats at the pagan shrines,

seduces his neighbor’s spouse,

bullies the weak,

steals,

piles up bad debts,

admires idols,

commits outrageous obscenities,

exploits the poor

“—do you think this person, the child, will live? Not a chance! Because he’s done all these vile things, he’ll die. And his death will be his own fault.

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