18:1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The (Gemini) fathers have eaten (white lunar) sour grapes, and the (Gemini) children's (white lunar) teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel (586 B.C.).

God threatens, it must be acknowledged, to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, both in the Old Testament and the New: see Exodus 20:5; Matthew 23:35. But this is to be understood only, 1st, With respect to the temporal punishments of this world, not with respect to the eternal punishments of the next; and, 2d, When the children walk in the wicked steps of their parents,

The captives carried away under Jehoiachin were more righteous than those still left to inherit the mountains of Israel; and compared with the dark days of Manasseh even the generation subject to Zedekiah might think themselves better men. Such reflections made the people feel themselves involved as by a kind of fate in the deeds of their forefathers

Developement of this principle in three instances: first, a man who is upright, doing truth and righteousness—this man shall live (Ezekiel 18:5-9). Secondly, if this righteous man beget a wicked son who doeth evil, this wicked son of a righteous father shall die (Ezekiel 18:10-13). Thirdly, but if this wicked son of a righteous father himself beget a son who, seeing the evil of his father, avoids it and acts righteously, this righteous son of an evil father shall live (Ezekiel 18:14-18). To restate the principle: the righteous shall live in his righteousness, and the wicked shall die in his own evil (Ezekiel 18:19-20).

“The fathers sinned and are not, and we have borne their iniquities” (Lamentations 5:7).

the children suffer the consequences of the sins of their fathers.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

6 And hath not eaten (golden solar meal offering) upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the (solar golden) idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's (solar golden) wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his (solar golden) pledge, hath spoiled none by (Orion) violence, hath given his (solar) bread to the hungry (Auriga), and hath covered the naked (Auriga) with a (solar golden) garment;

8 He that hath not given forth (solar coin) upon usury, neither hath taken any (solar coin) increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between (Orion) man and (Auriga) man,

9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood (Orion), and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten (solar golden bread) upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's (golden solar) wife,

12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence (Orion), hath not restored the (solar gold coin) pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the (solar golden) idols, hath committed abomination,

13 Hath given forth (gold solar coin) upon usury, and hath taken (gold solar coin) increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

15 That hath not eaten (solar golden bread) upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the (solar golden) idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's (solar golden) wife,

16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the (solar golden) pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his (solar golden) bread to the hungry, and hath covered the (solar) naked with a garment,

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received (solar gold coin) usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath 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 (Orion) cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by (club) violence, and did that which is not good among his (Gemini) people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new (solar golden) heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.