Parents will eat their own children, and children will eat their parents. I will punish you and scatter to the winds the few who survive.

“Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?

For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.

“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.

The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.

“Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols.