1 The|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
2 “Why|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" people|strong="H1121" say|strong="H0559" this|strong="H2088" proverb|strong="H4912":
3 But|strong="H0518" the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H5002", “By|strong="H3478" my|strong="H1961" life|strong="H2416", I|strong="H0589" swear that|strong="H2088" people|strong="H0518" in|strong="H3478" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H2088" think this|strong="H2088" proverb|strong="H4912" is|strong="H2088" true anymore|strong="H5750"!
4 I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H1121" treat everyone|strong="H3605", child|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" parent, just|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" same|strong="H1931". The|strong="H3605" one|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" sins|strong="H2398" is|strong="H1931" the|strong="H3605" one|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" will|strong="H1121" die|strong="H4191"!
5 “A|strong="H1961" person|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" is|strong="H0376" good will|strong="H1961" live! He|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0376" fair and|strong="H4941" does|strong="H6213" what|strong="H4941" is|strong="H0376" right|strong="H4941".
6 He|strong="H3808" doesn’t|strong="H3808" go|strong="H7126" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" mountains|strong="H2022" to|strong="H0413" share|strong="H0398" food|strong="H0398" offered|strong="H7126" to|strong="H0413" idols|strong="H1544". He|strong="H3808" doesn’t|strong="H3808" pray|strong="H5375" to|strong="H0413" those|strong="H0853" filthy idols|strong="H1544" in|strong="H0413" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H3808" doesn’t|strong="H3808" commit adultery with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H5375" neighbor’s|strong="H7453" wife|strong="H0802" or|strong="H3808" with|strong="H0413" a|strong="H5375" woman|strong="H0802" during her|strong="H0413" period|strong="H5079".
7 He|strong="H3808" doesn’t|strong="H3808" take|strong="H7725" advantage of|strong="H0376" others. If|strong="H0376" someone|strong="H0376" borrows money from|strong="H7725" him|strong="H5414", he|strong="H3808" might take|strong="H7725" something|strong="H3899" of|strong="H0376" value before|strong="H3808" he|strong="H3808" gives|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" money. But|strong="H3808" when|strong="H7725" that|strong="H3808" person|strong="H0376" pays|strong="H7725" him|strong="H5414" back|strong="H7725", he|strong="H3808" returns|strong="H7725" what|strong="H1500" he|strong="H3808" took|strong="H7725". He|strong="H3808" gives|strong="H5414" food|strong="H3899" to|strong="H7725" the|strong="H5414" hungry|strong="H7457" and|strong="H7725" clothes|strong="H0899" to|strong="H7725" people|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" need|strong="H0376" them|strong="H5414".
8 If|strong="H0376" someone|strong="H0376" wants to|strong="H7725" borrow money from|strong="H7725" him|strong="H5414", he|strong="H6213" lends|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" money and|strong="H3027" doesn’t|strong="H3808" charge|strong="H3027" interest|strong="H5392" on|strong="H3027" the|strong="H5414" loan|strong="H3027". He|strong="H6213" refuses to|strong="H7725" be|strong="H3808" crooked. He|strong="H6213" is|strong="H0376" always fair with|strong="H0376" everyone|strong="H0376". People|strong="H0376" can|strong="H6213" trust him|strong="H5414".
9 He|strong="H1931" obeys|strong="H6213" my|strong="H8104" laws and|strong="H1980" studies my|strong="H8104" rules|strong="H2708" so|strong="H1980" that|strong="H1931" he|strong="H1931" can|strong="H6213" learn to|strong="H1980" be|strong="H0136" fair and|strong="H1980" dependable. He|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" good, so|strong="H1980" he|strong="H1931" will|strong="H6662" live|strong="H2421".” This|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" what|strong="H4941" the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.
10 “But|strong="H3205" someone|strong="H0259" like|strong="H1818" that|strong="H1121" might|strong="H1121" have|strong="H1121" a|strong="H3205" son|strong="H1121" who|strong="H1121" does|strong="H6213" not|strong="H1121" do|strong="H6213" any|strong="H0259" of|strong="H1121" these|strong="H0428" good things|strong="H0428". The|strong="H3205" son|strong="H1121" steals things|strong="H0428" and|strong="H1121" kills people|strong="H1121".
11 He|strong="H1931" does|strong="H6213" things|strong="H0428" his|strong="H3605" father never|strong="H3808" did|strong="H6213". He|strong="H1931" goes to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" mountains|strong="H2022" and|strong="H0398" eats|strong="H0398" foods|strong="H1571" offered to|strong="H0413" false gods. He|strong="H1931" commits|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" sin of|strong="H2022" adultery with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3605" neighbor’s|strong="H7453" wife|strong="H0802".
12 He|strong="H6213" mistreats poor|strong="H6041", helpless people|strong="H3808". He|strong="H6213" takes|strong="H5375" advantage of|strong="H5869" them|strong="H0413". When|strong="H7725" a|strong="H5375" debt is|strong="H5869" paid|strong="H7725", he|strong="H6213" does|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" give|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" what|strong="H1500" he|strong="H6213" took|strong="H5375" from|strong="H7725" them|strong="H0413". He|strong="H6213" prays to|strong="H0413" filthy idols|strong="H1544" and|strong="H7725" does|strong="H6213" other terrible things|strong="H8441".
13 He|strong="H6213" lends|strong="H5414" money to|strong="H4191" people|strong="H3808" who|strong="H3605" need it|strong="H5414", but|strong="H3808" he|strong="H6213" forces them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H4191" pay|strong="H5414" interest|strong="H5392" on|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" loan. The|strong="H3605" evil son will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H1961" allowed|strong="H5414" to|strong="H4191" live|strong="H2421". He|strong="H6213" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" put|strong="H5414" to|strong="H4191" death|strong="H4191" because|strong="H3605" he|strong="H6213" did|strong="H6213" such|strong="H0428" terrible things|strong="H0428", and|strong="H1818" he|strong="H6213" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" responsible|strong="H1818" for|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" own|strong="H1961" death|strong="H4191".
14 “Now|strong="H2009", that|strong="H0834" evil son|strong="H1121" might|strong="H1121" also|strong="H0853" have|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3205" son|strong="H1121". But|strong="H3808" this|strong="H0834" son|strong="H1121" sees|strong="H7200" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" father|strong="H0001" did|strong="H6213", and|strong="H1121" he|strong="H0834" refuses to|strong="H3205" live as|strong="H0834" his|strong="H3605" father|strong="H0001" did|strong="H6213". He|strong="H0834" treats people|strong="H1121" fairly.
15 He|strong="H3808" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" go to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" mountains|strong="H2022" and|strong="H3478" eat|strong="H0398" foods offered to|strong="H0413" false gods. He|strong="H3808" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" pray|strong="H5375" to|strong="H0413" filthy idols|strong="H1544" in|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H3808" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" commit the|strong="H0853" sin of|strong="H1004" adultery with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H5921" neighbor’s|strong="H7453" wife|strong="H0802".
16 He|strong="H5414" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" take|strong="H5414" advantage of|strong="H0376" people|strong="H0376". If|strong="H0376" someone|strong="H0376" borrows money from|strong="H0376" him|strong="H5414", the|strong="H5414" good son takes|strong="H5414" something|strong="H3899" of|strong="H0376" value and|strong="H0376" then|strong="H5414" gives|strong="H5414" the|strong="H5414" other|strong="H0376" person|strong="H0376" the|strong="H5414" money. When|strong="H0376" that|strong="H3808" person|strong="H0376" pays him|strong="H5414" back, the|strong="H5414" good son gives|strong="H5414" back what|strong="H1500" he|strong="H5414" took|strong="H5414". The|strong="H5414" good son gives|strong="H5414" food|strong="H3899" to|strong="H5414" hungry|strong="H7457" people|strong="H0376", and|strong="H0376" he|strong="H5414" gives|strong="H5414" clothes|strong="H0899" to|strong="H5414" those|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" need|strong="H0376" them|strong="H5414".
17 He|strong="H1931" helps the|strong="H3947" poor|strong="H6041". If|strong="H1931" people|strong="H3808" want to|strong="H1980" borrow money, the|strong="H3947" good son lends them|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3947" money, and|strong="H1980" he|strong="H1931" does|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" charge|strong="H3027" interest|strong="H5392" on|strong="H1980" the|strong="H3947" loan|strong="H3027". He|strong="H1931" obeys|strong="H6213" my|strong="H3947" laws and|strong="H1980" follows|strong="H1980" them|strong="H7725". He|strong="H1931" will|strong="H3027" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H4191" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H1980" death|strong="H4191" for|strong="H4941" his|strong="H3947" father’s|strong="H0001" sins|strong="H5771". The|strong="H3947" good son will|strong="H3027" live|strong="H2421".
18 The|strong="H0834" father|strong="H0001" hurts people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H0001" steals things|strong="H0834". He|strong="H0834" never|strong="H3808" does|strong="H6213" anything|strong="H3808" good|strong="H2896" for|strong="H3588" my|strong="H0834" people|strong="H5971"! He|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" die|strong="H4191" because|strong="H3588" of|strong="H0001" his|strong="H0834" own sins|strong="H5771".
19 “You|strong="H3605" might|strong="H1121" ask|strong="H0559", ‘Why|strong="H4069" will|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" son|strong="H1121" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H3808" punished for|strong="H4941" his|strong="H3605" father’s|strong="H0001" sins|strong="H5771"?’ The|strong="H3605" reason is|strong="H3605" that|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" son|strong="H1121" was|strong="H1121" fair and|strong="H1121" did|strong="H6213" good things|strong="H3605". He|strong="H6213" very carefully|strong="H6213" obeyed|strong="H8104" my|strong="H3605" laws, so|strong="H6213" he|strong="H6213" will|strong="H1121" live|strong="H2421".
20 The|strong="H5921" one|strong="H3808" who|strong="H1931" sins|strong="H2398" is|strong="H1931" the|strong="H5921" one|strong="H3808" who|strong="H1931" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H4191" death|strong="H4191". A|strong="H1961" son|strong="H1121" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H1961" punished for|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" father’s|strong="H0001" sins|strong="H2398", and|strong="H1121" a|strong="H1961" father|strong="H0001" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H1961" punished for|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" son’s|strong="H1121" sins|strong="H2398". A|strong="H1961" good man’s|strong="H5315" goodness belongs|strong="H1961" to|strong="H4191" him|strong="H5921" alone|strong="H1931", and|strong="H1121" a|strong="H1961" bad man’s|strong="H5315" evil|strong="H7563" belongs|strong="H1961" to|strong="H4191" him|strong="H5921" alone|strong="H1931".
21 “Now|strong="H3588", if|strong="H3588" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H0834" change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H3605" lives|strong="H2421", they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421" and|strong="H7725" not|strong="H3808" die|strong="H4191". They|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" stop|strong="H3808" doing|strong="H6213" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" and|strong="H7725" begin to|strong="H4191" carefully|strong="H6213" obey|strong="H6213" all|strong="H3605" my|strong="H3605" laws. They|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" become|strong="H7725" fair and|strong="H7725" good.
22 God|strong="H3808" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" remember|strong="H2142" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213". He|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" remember|strong="H2142" only|strong="H3605" their|strong="H3605" goodness, so|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421"!”
23 The|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H5002", “I|strong="H3808" don’t|strong="H3808" want|strong="H2654" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H3808" to|strong="H7725" die|strong="H4194". I|strong="H3808" want|strong="H2654" them|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H7725" lives|strong="H4194" so|strong="H3808" that|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3808" can|strong="H3808" live|strong="H2421"!
24 “Now, maybe good people|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" stop|strong="H3808" being good. They|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H3605" lives and|strong="H7725" begin to|strong="H4191" do|strong="H6213" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" terrible things|strong="H3605" that|strong="H0834" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213" in|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3605" past. (The|strong="H3605" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H0834" changed, so|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" can|strong="H0834" live.) So|strong="H6213" if|strong="H0834" those|strong="H3605" good people|strong="H0834" change|strong="H7725" and|strong="H7725" become|strong="H7725" bad, God|strong="H3808" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" remember|strong="H2142" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" good things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213". He|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" remember|strong="H2142" that|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" turned|strong="H7725" against|strong="H2398" him|strong="H7725" and|strong="H7725" began to|strong="H4191" sin|strong="H2398". So|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" die|strong="H4191" because|strong="H0834" of|strong="H3605" their|strong="H3605" sin|strong="H2398".
25 “You|strong="H3808" people|strong="H3808" might|strong="H3478" say|strong="H0559", ‘The|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" isn’t|strong="H3808" fair!’ But|strong="H3808" listen|strong="H8085", family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478". I|strong="H0559" am fair. You|strong="H3808" are|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0559" ones who|strong="H3478" are|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" fair!
26 If|strong="H0834" good people|strong="H0834" change|strong="H7725" and|strong="H7725" become|strong="H7725" evil|strong="H5766", they|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" die|strong="H4191" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" bad things|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" do|strong="H6213".
27 And|strong="H7725" if|strong="H0834" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H5315" change|strong="H7725" and|strong="H7725" become|strong="H7725" good and|strong="H7725" fair, they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" save|strong="H5315" their|strong="H7725" lives|strong="H5315". They|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421"!
28 They|strong="H0834" saw|strong="H7200" how|strong="H0834" wicked they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" and|strong="H7725" came|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H4191" me|strong="H7725". They|strong="H0834" stopped|strong="H7725" doing|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" evil things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" in|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3605" past. So|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421"! They|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" die|strong="H4191"!”
29 The|strong="H0559" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559", “That’s not|strong="H3808" fair! The|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" isn’t|strong="H3808" fair!”
30 Why|strong="H3651"? Because|strong="H3651", family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478", I|strong="H3651" will|strong="H1961" judge|strong="H8199" each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1004" you|strong="H3605" only|strong="H3605" for|strong="H1004" what|strong="H1870" you|strong="H3605" do|strong="H3605"!” This|strong="H3651" is|strong="H0376" what|strong="H1870" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said|strong="H3651". “So|strong="H3651" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" me|strong="H7725"! Stop|strong="H3808" committing those|strong="H3605" crimes|strong="H6588" and|strong="H3478" do|strong="H3605" away|strong="H7725" with|strong="H1004" those|strong="H3605" things|strong="H3605" that|strong="H3605" cause|strong="H7725" you|strong="H3605" to|strong="H7725" sin|strong="H5771"!
31 Throw|strong="H7993" away|strong="H7993" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" terrible idols with|strong="H1004" which|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" committed|strong="H6213" your|strong="H3605" crimes|strong="H6588"! Change your|strong="H3605" heart|strong="H3820" and|strong="H3478" spirit|strong="H7307". People|strong="H0834" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478", why|strong="H4100" should|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0834" do|strong="H6213" things|strong="H3605" that|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" cost you|strong="H0834" your|strong="H3605" life|strong="H4191"?
32 I|strong="H3588" don’t|strong="H3808" want|strong="H2654" to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" you|strong="H3588"! Please come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H7725" live|strong="H2421"!” This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0136" what|strong="H3588" the|strong="H5002" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" said.