The One Who Sins Will Die
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“ ‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
5“Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.
7He does not oppress anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
8He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them.
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly between two parties.
9He follows my decrees
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;
he will surely live,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
10“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things18:10 Or things to a brother 11(though the father has done none of them):
“He eats at the mountain shrines.
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12He oppresses the poor and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.
13He lends at interest and takes a profit.
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.
14“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:
15“He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
17He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
19“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. 20The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
21“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
24“But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.
25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. 28Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. 29Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
Enhver må bære straffen for sin egen synd
1Herren sagde til mig:
2„I kender ordsproget: ‚Fædrene spiste sure druer, og børnene kom til at lide under det.’ 3Så sandt jeg lever, siger Herren, skal det ordsprog ikke længere gælde i Israel. 4Det er mig, der dømmer alle mennesker, både forældre og børn, og jeg siger: ‚Enhver skal dø for sine egne synders skyld!’
5Alle, der gør, hvad der er godt og ret, skal leve. 6De deltager ikke i afgudsofringer på højene, begår ikke ægteskabsbrud og har ikke samleje i menstruationsperioden. 7De viser barmhjertighed imod dem, de låner penge til, og nægter ikke at give de fattige deres pant tilbage. De tilraner sig ikke andres ejendom, men giver mad og tøj til dem, der er i nød. 8De yder lån uden at kræve renter. De holder sig fra synd, er fair overfor andre 9og bestræber sig i det hele taget på at adlyde mine love. De, der handler sådan, er retskafne, siger jeg, Herren, og de skal leve.
10Men retskafne mennesker kan godt have børn, som bliver mordere og gør ting, som forældrene aldrig selv ville gøre: 11Måske ofrer børnene til afguderne, begår ægteskabsbrud 12-13og undertrykker de fattige og hjælpeløse. Måske stjæler de, låner penge ud mod høje renter og giver ikke låneren sit pant tilbage. Måske søger de hjælp hos afguderne og gør andre afskyelige ting. Den slags mennesker skal dø, for de har gjort afskyelige ting og må selv bære ansvaret for deres handlinger.
14Men onde mennesker kan også have børn, som ikke ønsker at følge i forældrenes fodspor, men beslutter sig for at leve et retskaffent og gudfrygtigt liv. 15De deltager ikke i afgudsofringer på højene og begår ikke ægteskabsbrud. 16De viser barmhjertighed imod dem, de låner ud til, og de nægter ikke at give de fattige deres pant tilbage. De stjæler ikke, men giver mad og tøj til dem, der er i nød. 17De yder lån uden at kræve renter. De holder sig fra synd, er fair overfor andre og bestræber sig i det hele taget på at adlyde mine love. Den slags mennesker skal ikke dø på grund af deres forældres synder, men skal få et godt liv. 18Den onde, derimod, som er en røver eller morder, eller som udnytter sin næste, skal dø på grund af sine egne synder.
19‚Hvorfor kommer børnene ikke til at lide for forældrenes synd?’ spørger I. Nej, for de gjorde jo det rigtige og adlød mine love. De får lov at leve. 20Enhver skal dø for sine egne synders skyld. Børnene skal ikke straffes for forældrenes synd, og forældrene skal ikke straffes for børnenes synd. Den retskafne belønnes for sin godhed, og den onde straffes for sin ondskab. 21Men hvis de onde vender sig fra deres ondskab og begynder at adlyde mine love, så de gør, hvad der er godt og ret, skal de leve og ikke dø, 22for deres fortid skal være glemt, og de skal leve, fordi de har valgt at gøre det gode.
23Tror I måske, at det glæder mig, når et ondt menneske bliver straffet med døden? spørger jeg, Herren. Nej, jeg vil meget hellere have, at de vender sig fra deres ondskab, så de kan leve. 24Men hvis retskafne mennesker begynder at synde og gøre alle de afskyelige ting, som de onde mennesker gør, så vil al deres tidligere godhed være glemt, og de skal dø som straf for deres troløshed og synd.
25‚Det er ikke fair!’ siger I. Hør lige her, Israels folk: Er det mig, der ikke er fair? Er det ikke snarere jer? 26Når retskafne mennesker holder op med at handle ret og i stedet vælger at synde, er det så ikke fair, at de må bære straffen for deres synd og dø? 27Og når onde mennesker tager afstand fra deres tidligere synder og i stedet vælger at adlyde min lov, er det så ikke fair, at de redder livet? 28De traf jo det valg at omvende sig fra deres synd. Fortjener de så at dø? Nej, de fortjener at leve.
29Alligevel siger I: ‚Det er ikke fair!’ Åh, Israels folk, tænk jer dog om! Er det mig, der ikke er fair? Er det ikke snarere jer? 30Jeg dømmer jer på grundlag af, hvordan I hver især handler. Omvend jer derfor fra jeres synder, så I ikke bliver straffet med døden. 31Tag afstand fra synden, og få jer et nyt hjerte og en ny ånd. Åh, Israels folk, hvorfor vil I vælge døden? 32Jeg glæder mig bestemt ikke over at se jer dø. Omvend jer dog, så I kan leve.”
