1. The word of the Lord came to me:
2. “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3. As I live” — this is the declaration of the Lord God — “you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4. Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son — both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
5. “Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
6. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or come near a woman during her menstrual impurity.
7. He doesn’t oppress anyone but returns his collateral to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
8. He doesn’t lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men.
9. He follows My statutes and keeps My ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
10. “Now suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood and does any of these things,
11. though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor’s wife,
12. and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he raises his eyes to the idols, commits detestable acts,
13. and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His blood will be on him.
14. “Now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do likewise.
15. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.