¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ² “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children`s teeth are set on edge`? ³ “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. ⁴ For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die. ⁵ “Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. ⁶ He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor`s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. ⁷ He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. ⁸ He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.