¹⁹ “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.^(A)

³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return^(A) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’^(B) says the Lord Almighty. ⁴ Do not be like your ancestors,^(C) to whom the earlier prophets^(D) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways^(E) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,^(F) declares the Lord.^{(G) 5} Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ But did not my words^(H) and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?^(I)

“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,^(J) just as he determined to do.’”^(K)

⁴ I will make them abhorrent^(A) to all the kingdoms of the earth^(B) because of what Manasseh^(C) son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents^(A) or keep their laws or defile yourselves^(B) with their idols. ¹⁹ I am the Lord your God;^(C) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^{(D) 20} Keep my Sabbaths^(E) holy, that they may be a sign^(F) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.^(G)”

² “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰ “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(A) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^(B)

²⁴ because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees^(A) and desecrated my Sabbaths,^(B) and their eyes lusted after^(C) their parents’ idols.^(D)