10. But if he begets a son who is violent and commits murder, or does any of these things,
11. even though the father does none of them—a son who eats on the mountains, defiles the wife of his neighbor,
12. oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things,
13. lends at interest and exacts usury—this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely be put to death; his own blood shall be on him.
14. But, in turn, if he begets a son who sees all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him—
15. a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile a neighbor’s wife;
16. who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
17. who refrains from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and walks in my statutes—this one shall not die for the sins of his father. He shall surely live!
18. Only the father, since he committed extortion and robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people—he will die because of his sin!
19. You ask: “Why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?” Because the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to observe all my statutes—he shall surely live!
20. Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. Justice belongs to the just, and wickedness to the wicked.
21. But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die!
22. None of the crimes he has committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the justice he has shown.
23. Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked—oracle of the Lord God? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?