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.
24. But when good people start sinning and doing disgusting things, will they live? No! All their good deeds will be forgotten, and they will be put to death because of their sins.
25. You people of Israel accuse me of being unfair! But listen—I'm not unfair; you are!
26. If good people start doing evil, they must be put to death, because they have sinned.
27. And if wicked people start doing right, they will save themselves from punishment.
28. They will think about what they've done and stop sinning, and so they won't be put to death.