Three generations, three choices

10But if he fathers a violent son, one who sheds blood and does any one of these things,

11But he has done none of all these things; instead, he has even eaten on the mountains and defiled his neighbor’s wife.

12He has oppressed the poor and needy, committed robbery, not returned a pledge, lifted up his eyes to the idols, and done an abomination.

13He lends at interest and takes profit—and shall he live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely be put to death; his blood shall be upon him.

14But behold, he fathers a son, and he sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees them, and he does not do likewise.

15He has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he has not defiled his neighbor’s wife.

16He has not oppressed anyone, has not taken a pledge, and has not robbed; he has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with a garment.

17He has withheld his hand from the poor, has not taken interest or profit, has carried out my judgments, and has walked in my statutes. He will not die for his father's iniquity; he will surely live.

18As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.

19Yet you say, ‘Why does the son not bear the iniquity of the father?’ Because the son has done justice and righteousness, has kept all my statutes, and has done them; he shall surely live.

20The person who sins—he shall die. A son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and a father shall not bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.