1 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4 The life of every person belongs to me. Fathers and their children belong to me. The person who sins will die.
5 “Suppose a righteous person does what is fair and right.
6 He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife or have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is having her period.
7 He doesn’t oppress anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked.