² “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:

³ As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.^{(C) 4} Look, every life belongs to me.^(D) The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.^(E)

¹⁹ But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ ^(A) Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live. ²⁰ The person who sins is the one who will die.^(B) A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity.^(C) The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him,^(D) and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.^(E)