حِزْقِيَال 18

١ 1 وَكَانَ إِلَيَّ كَلَامُ ٱلرَّبِّ قَائِلًا:

A message from the Lord came to me, saying,

٢ 2 «مَا لَكُمْ أَنْتُمْ تَضْرِبُونَ هَذَا ٱلْمَثَلَ عَلَى أَرْضِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، قَائِلِينَ: ٱلْآبَاءُ أَكَلُوا ٱلْحِصْرِمَ وَأَسْنَانُ ٱلْأَبْنَاءِ ضَرِسَتْ؟

“What's this proverb you people are quoting about the country of Israel: ‘The fathers ate the unripe grapes, but their children got the sour taste’?

٣ 3 حَيٌّ أَنَا، يَقُولُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّبُّ، لَا يَكُونُ لَكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدُ أَنْ تَضْرِبُوا هَذَا ٱلْمَثَلَ فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

As I live, declares the Lord God, you won't quote this proverb in Israel any more.

٤ 4 هَا كُلُّ ٱلنُّفُوسِ هِيَ لِي. نَفْسُ ٱلْأَبِ كَنَفْسِ ٱلِٱبْنِ، كِلَاهُمَا لِي. اَلنَّفْسُ ٱلَّتِي تُخْطِئُ هِيَ تَمُوتُ.

Can't you see that everyone belongs to me? Whether parents or children, they are all mine. It's the person who sins who will die.

٥ 5 وَٱلْإِنْسَانُ ٱلَّذِي كَانَ بَارًّا وَفَعَلَ حَقًّا وَعَدْلًا،

Take the example of a man who is a good person, doing what is fair and right.

٦ 6 لَمْ يَأْكُلْ عَلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ عَيْنَيْهِ إِلَى أَصْنَامِ بَيْتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَلَمْ يُنَجِّسِ ٱمْرَأَةَ قَرِيبِهِ، وَلَمْ يَقْرُبِ ٱمْرَأَةً طَامِثًا،

He doesn't go to the pagan shrines in the mountains to eat a religious meal, or worship Israel's idols. He doesn't have sex with someone else's wife or with a woman during her period.

٧ 7 وَلَمْ يَظْلِمْ إِنْسَانًا، بَلْ رَدَّ لِلْمَدْيُونِ رَهْنَهُ، وَلَمْ يَغْتَصِبِ ٱغْتِصَابًا بَلْ بَذَلَ خُبْزَهُ لِلْجَوْعَانِ، وَكَسَا ٱلْعُرْيَانَ ثَوْبًا،

He doesn't exploit anyone. He gives back what a debtor has given him as security. He doesn't rob others. He feeds the hungry and clothes the naked.

٨ 8 وَلَمْ يُعْطِ بِٱلرِّبَا، وَلَمْ يَأْخُذْ مُرَابَحَةً، وَكَفَّ يَدَهُ عَنِ ٱلْجَوْرِ، وَأَجْرَى ٱلْعَدْلَ ٱلْحَقَّ بَيْنَ ٱلْإِنْسَانِ وَٱلْإِنْسَانِ،

He doesn't lend with interest or make a profit from loans. He refuses to do wrong and makes sure he's truly fair in his decisions between people.

٩ 9 وَسَلَكَ فِي فَرَائِضِي وَحَفِظَ أَحْكَامِي لِيَعْمَلَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَهُوَ بَارٌّ. حَيَاةً يَحْيَا، يَقُولُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّبُّ.

He follows my rules and keeps my regulations faithfully. Such a man lives by what's right and he will certainly live, declares the Lord God.

١٠ 10 «فَإِنْ وَلَدَ ٱبْنًا مُعْتَنِفًا سَفَّاكَ دَمٍ، فَفَعَلَ شَيْئًا مِنْ هَذِهِ،

What if that man has a son who is a violent criminal, who kills and does do such evil things just listed

١١ 11 وَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ كُلَّ تِلْكَ، بَلْ أَكَلَ عَلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ، وَنَجَّسَ ٱمْرَأَةَ قَرِيبِهِ،

even though the father doesn't act like that at all. The son goes to the pagan shrines in the mountains to eat a religious meal. He has sex with someone else's wife.

١٢ 12 وَظَلَمَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ، وَٱغْتَصَبَ ٱغْتِصَابًا، وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ ٱلرَّهْنَ، وَقَدْ رَفَعَ عَيْنَيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْأَصْنَامِ وَفَعَلَ ٱلرِّجْسَ،

He exploits the poor and those in need. He robs others, and he doesn't give back what a debtor has given him as security. He worships idols. He commits disgusting sins.

١٣ 13 وَأَعْطَى بِٱلرِّبَا وَأَخَذَ ٱلْمُرَابَحَةَ، أَفَيَحْيَا؟ لَا يَحْيَا! قَدْ عَمِلَ كُلَّ هَذِهِ ٱلرَّجَاسَاتِ فَمَوْتًا يَمُوتُ. دَمُهُ يَكُونُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ.

He lends with interest and makes a profit from loans. Is someone like this going to live? No, he won't! Because he has done all these offensive things, he will die for certain, and he will be responsible for his own death.

١٤ 14 «وَإِنْ وَلَدَ ٱبْنًا رَأَى جَمِيعَ خَطَايَا أَبِيهِ ٱلَّتِي فَعَلَهَا، فَرَآهَا وَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ مِثْلَهَا.

Now what if this man has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed. He sees them but doesn't do the same.

١٥ 15 لَمْ يَأْكُلْ عَلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ، وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ عَيْنَيْهِ إِلَى أَصْنَامِ بَيْتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَلَا نَجَّسَ ٱمْرَأَةَ قَرِيبِهِ،

He doesn't go to the pagan shrines in the mountains to eat a religious meal, or worship Israel's idols. He doesn't have sex with someone else's wife.

١٦ 16 وَلَا ظَلَمَ إِنْسَانًا، وَلَا ٱرْتَهَنَ رَهْنًا، وَلَا ٱغْتَصَبَ ٱغْتِصَابًا، بَلْ بَذَلَ خُبْزَهُ لِلْجَوْعَانِ، وَكَسَا ٱلْعُرْيَانَ ثَوْبًا

He doesn't exploit anyone. He doesn't demand security for a loan. He doesn't rob others. He feeds the hungry and clothes the naked.

١٧ 17 وَرَفَعَ يَدَهُ عَنِ ٱلْفَقِيرِ، وَلَمْ يَأْخُذْ رِبًا وَلَا مُرَابَحَةً، بَلْ أَجْرَى أَحْكَامِي وَسَلَكَ فِي فَرَائِضِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَمُوتُ بِإِثْمِ أَبِيهِ. حَيَاةً يَحْيَا.

He refuses to do wrong and does not charge interest or make a profit on loans. He keeps my regulations and follows my laws. A man like that won't die because of his father's sins, he will certainly live!

١٨ 18 أَمَّا أَبُوهُ فَلِأَنَّهُ ظَلَمَ ظُلْمًا، وَٱغْتَصَبَ أَخَاهُ ٱغْتِصَابًا، وَعَمِلَ غَيْرَ ٱلصَّالِحِ بَيْنَ شَعْبِهِ، فَهُوَذَا يَمُوتُ بِإِثْمِهِ.

But his father will die for his own sins, because he exploited others, robbed his relatives, and did wrong to his own people.

١٩ 19 «وَأَنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ: لِمَاذَا لَا يَحْمِلُ ٱلِٱبْنُ مِنْ إِثْمِ ٱلْأَبِ؟ أَمَّا ٱلِٱبْنُ فَقَدْ فَعَلَ حَقًّا وَعَدْلًا. حَفِظَ جَمِيعَ فَرَائِضِي وَعَمِلَ بِهَا فَحَيَاةً يَحْيَا.

You ask, ‘Why shouldn't the son pay for his father's sins?’ If the son has done what is fair and right, keeping all my laws, then he'll live, he won't be punished.

٢٠ 20 اَلنَّفْسُ ٱلَّتِي تُخْطِئُ هِيَ تَمُوتُ. اَلِٱبْنُ لَا يَحْمِلُ مِنْ إِثْمِ ٱلْأَبِ، وَٱلْأَبُ لَا يَحْمِلُ مِنْ إِثْمِ ٱلِٱبْنِ. بِرُّ ٱلْبَارِّ عَلَيْهِ يَكُونُ، وَشَرُّ ٱلشِّرِّيرِ عَلَيْهِ يَكُونُ.

It's the person who sins who will die. A son won't pay for his father's sins, and a father won't pay for his son's sins. The good consequences of living right will come to those who are good; the evil consequences of wickedness will come to those who are evil.

٢١ 21 فَإِذَا رَجَعَ ٱلشِّرِّيرُ عَنْ جَمِيعِ خَطَايَاهُ ٱلَّتِي فَعَلَهَا وَحَفِظَ كُلَّ فَرَائِضِي وَفَعَلَ حَقًّا وَعَدْلًا فَحَيَاةً يَحْيَا. لَا يَمُوتُ.

However, if someone who is wicked stops sinning and keeps my laws, doing what is fair and right, they will certainly live—they won't die.

٢٢ 22 كُلُّ مَعَاصِيهِ ٱلَّتِي فَعَلَهَا لَا تُذْكَرُ عَلَيْهِ. فِي بِرِّهِ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلَ يَحْيَا.

None of their sins will be held against them. Because they are now doing what's right, they will live.

٢٣ 23 هَلْ مَسَرَّةً أُسَرُّ بِمَوْتِ ٱلشِّرِّيرِ؟ يَقُولُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّبُّ. أَلَا بِرُجُوعِهِ عَنْ طُرُقِهِ فَيَحْيَا؟

Do I like it when wicked people die? declares the Lord God. Of course not—I would be delighted if they stopped sinning and lived!

٢٤ 24 وَإِذَا رَجَعَ ٱلْبَارُّ عَنْ بِرِّهِ وَعَمِلَ إِثْمًا وَفَعَلَ مِثْلَ كُلِّ ٱلرَّجَاسَاتِ ٱلَّتِي يَفْعَلُهَا ٱلشِّرِّيرُ، أَفَيَحْيَا؟ كُلُّ بِرِّهِ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلَهُ لَا يُذْكَرُ. فِي خِيَانَتِهِ ٱلَّتِي خَانَهَا وَفِي خَطِيَّتِهِ ٱلَّتِي أَخْطَأَ بِهَا يَمُوتُ.

But if someone who is living according to what's right stops and does wrong, doing the same offensive things as the wicked, will that person live? Of course not! In fact, all the good things they did previously will be forgotten. That person will die because of their betrayal of me and the sins they've committed.

٢٥ 25 «وَأَنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ: لَيْسَتْ طَرِيقُ ٱلرَّبِّ مُسْتَوِيَةً. فَٱسْمَعُوا ٱلْآنَ يَا بَيْتَ إِسْرَائِيلَ: أَطَرِيقِي هِيَ غَيْرُ مُسْتَوِيَةٍ؟ أَلَيْسَتْ طُرُقُكُمْ غَيْرَ مُسْتَوِيَةٍ؟

Even so you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.’ People of Israel, listen to me! Is it what I'm doing that isn't right? Isn't it what you're doing that isn't right?

٢٦ 26 إِذَا رَجَعَ ٱلْبَارُّ عَنْ بِرِّهِ وَعَمِلَ إِثْمًا وَمَاتَ فِيهِ، فَبِإِثْمِهِ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلَهُ يَمُوتُ.

If someone who lives according to what's right stops doing right and does wrong, they will die. They will die because of wrong things they've done.

٢٧ 27 وَإِذَا رَجَعَ ٱلشِّرِّيرُ عَنْ شَرِّهِ ٱلَّذِي فَعَلَ، وَعَمِلَ حَقًّا وَعَدْلًا، فَهُوَ يُحْيِي نَفْسَهُ.

But if someone wicked stops doing wrong and does what is fair and right, they will save their life.

٢٨ 28 رَأَى فَرَجَعَ عَنْ كُلِّ مَعَاصِيهِ ٱلَّتِي عَمِلَهَا فَحَيَاةً يَحْيَا. لَا يَمُوتُ.

Because they thought about it and gave up their wicked ways, they will certainly live—they won't die.

٢٩ 29 وَبَيْتُ إِسْرَائِيلَ يَقُولُ: لَيْسَتْ طَرِيقُ ٱلرَّبِّ مُسْتَوِيَةً. أَطُرُقِي غَيْرُ مُسْتَقِيمَةٍ يَا بَيْتَ إِسْرَائِيلَ؟ أَلَيْسَتْ طُرُقُكُمْ غَيْرَ مُسْتَقِيمَةٍ؟

But the people of Israel say, ‘The Lord's way isn't right.’ Are my ways unfair, people of Israel? Isn't it your ways that aren't fair?

٣٠ 30 مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أَقْضِي عَلَيْكُمْ يَا بَيْتَ إِسْرَائِيلَ، كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ كَطُرُقِهِ، يَقُولُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّبُّ. تُوبُوا وَٱرْجِعُوا عَنْ كُلِّ مَعَاصِيكُمْ، وَلَا يَكُونُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِثْمُ مَهْلَكَةً.

Consequently I'm going to judge you, people of Israel! I will judge each of you depending on what you've done, declares the Lord God. Repent and stop rebelling so that your sins won't bring you down.

٣١ 31 اِطْرَحُوا عَنْكُمْ كُلَّ مَعَاصِيكُمُ ٱلَّتِي عَصَيْتُمْ بِهَا، وَٱعْمَلُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ قَلْبًا جَدِيدًا وَرُوحًا جَدِيدَةً. فَلِمَاذَا تَمُوتُونَ يَا بَيْتَ إِسْرَائِيلَ؟

Get rid of all your rebellious sins! Change your way of thinking and have a new spirit. Why do you want to die, people of Israel?

٣٢ 32 لِأَنِّي لَا أُسَرُّ بِمَوْتِ مَنْ يَمُوتُ، يَقُولُ ٱلسَّيِّدُ ٱلرَّبُّ، فَٱرْجِعُوا وَٱحْيَوْا.

I don't like it when anybody dies, declares the Lord God. So repent so you can live!”