1. The word of Adonai came to me saying:
2. “What do you mean by using this proverb in the land of Israel saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, so the children’s teeth are set on edge?’
3. As I live”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“you will never again use this proverb in Israel.
4. Behold, every living soul is Mine—the soul of father as well as the soul of son—both are Mine. Behold, the soul who sins is the one who will die.
5. “Suppose a man is just and does what is lawful and right:
6. He has not eaten at mountain shrines or lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He has not defiled his neighbor’s wife or come near to a woman during niddah .
7. He does not wrong anyone, returns his pledge for a debt, does not commit robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
8. He does not loan with interest or take unjust gain. He keeps his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between people,
9. walks in My laws and keeps My statutes, behaving honestly. Such a person is just—he will surely live.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
10. “Now suppose he fathers a son who is violent, who sheds blood and does any of these things to a brother
11. (though the father himself does none of these things). He has even eaten at mountain shrines, defiled his neighbor’s wife,
12. wronged the poor and needy, taken by robbery, not restored the pledge, lifted up his eyes to the idols, committed abomination,
13. loaned with interest and taken unjust gain. Will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these detestable things. He will surely be put to death and his blood will be on him.