The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout

Ezekiel 18: Turn and Live

The people of Israel had a proverb: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge. They meant they were being punished for their parents' sins. God said they would not use this proverb any more, because all souls are his. Each person is responsible before God. A man who is just, who walks in God's statutes, deals truly, gives bread to the hungry, and covers the naked, will surely live. If his son does wrong, the son is responsible for his own wrong. If that son's son sees his father's sins and does not do likewise, he will live. And if a wicked man turns from all his sins and does what is lawful and right, none of his transgressions will be remembered against him. God said he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants them to turn from their ways and live. So he called Israel to cast away their transgressions and make themselves a new heart and a new spirit. Therefore turn yourselves, and live!

Go to worksheets ↓

Bible:

Read Ezekiel 18

World English Bible · 32 verses

  1. 1 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 “What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 “But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 and has not eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife, hasn’t come near a woman in her impurity,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 he who hasn’t lent to them with interest, hasn’t taken any increase from them, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 “If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 or who does not do any of those things but has eaten at the mountain shrines and defiled his neighbor’s wife,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor, shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 “Now, behold, if he fathers a son who sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and fears, and doesn’t do likewise,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 who hasn’t eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 hasn’t wronged any, hasn’t taken anything to pledge, hasn’t taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who hasn’t received interest or increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he will die in his iniquity.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 “Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 The soul who sins, he 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 on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 None of his transgressions that he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  24. 24 “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  25. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  26. 26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in it, then he dies in his iniquity that he has done.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  27. 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  28. 28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  29. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  30. 30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  31. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, house of Israel?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  32. 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

  1. 1Pick a grade below
  2. 2Look over the worksheet
  3. 3Tap Print worksheet. Print the answer key separately.

Pick a grade:

Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Ezekiel 18 · Preschool

Turn and Live!

Name Date

Color the path turning toward God. God wants us to turn to Him!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!”

Ezekiel 18:32 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God does not want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to turn away from wrong things and come to Him. When we are sorry and turn to God, He forgives us. Let's tell God we want to follow Him.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

‹ All Ezekiel chapters · All books