17. He refuses to hurt the poor. He doesn’t charge interest or make excessive profits. He obeys my rules and lives by my laws. He won’t die for his father’s sins. He will certainly live.
18. But his father has oppressed others, robbed his relative, and done what is wrong among his people. So the father will die because of his sin.
19. “But you ask, ‘Why isn’t the son punished for his father’s sin?’ It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live.
20. The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.
21. “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die.
22. All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did.
23. I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.