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The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
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What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
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As I live, saith the LordGOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
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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.
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But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
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And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruouswoman,
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And hath not oppressedany, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
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He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executedtruejudgment between man and man,
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Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to dealtruly; he is just, he shall surelylive, saith the LordGOD.
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If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
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And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
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Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committedabomination,
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Hath given forth upon usury, and hath takenincrease: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surelydie; his blood shall be upon him.
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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,
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That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
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Neither hath oppressedany, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
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That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not receivedusury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surelylive.
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As for his father, because he cruellyoppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not goodamong his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
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Yet say ye, Why? doth not the sonbear 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 surelylive.
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The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the fatherbear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
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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 surelylive, he shall not die.
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All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
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Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?saith the LordGOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
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But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committethiniquity, 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.
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Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my wayequal? are not your waysunequal?
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When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committethiniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
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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 soulalive.
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Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surelylive, he shall not die.
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Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my waysequal? are not your waysunequal?
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Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the LordGOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
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Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a newheart and a newspirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the LordGOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.