12. cheats the poor, and robs people. He keeps what is given to him as security for a loan. He worships idols, does disgusting things,
13. and charges high interest when lending money. An evil man like that will certainly not live. He is the one who has done these horrible sins, so it's his own fault that he will be put to death.
14. But suppose this evil man has a son who sees his father do these things and refuses to act like him.
15. He doesn't eat meat at local shrines or worship Israel's idols, and he doesn't have sex with someone else's wife.
16. He never cheats or robs anyone and doesn't even demand security for a loan. He gives food and clothes to the poor
17. and refuses to do anything evil or to charge interest. And he obeys all my laws and teachings. Such a man will live. His own father sinned, but this good man will not be put to death for the sins of his father.
18. It is his father who will die for cheating and robbing and doing evil.
19. You may wonder why a son isn't punished for the sins of his father. It is because the son does what is right and obeys my laws.
20. Only those who sin will be put to death. Children won't suffer for the sins of their parents, and parents won't suffer for the sins of their children. Good people will be rewarded for what they do, and evil people will be punished for what they do.
21. Suppose wicked people stop sinning and start obeying my laws and doing right. They won't be put to death.
22. All their sins will be forgiven, and they will live because they did right.
23. I, the Lord God, don't like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live.