הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַחֹטֵאת הִיא תָמוּת בֵּן לֹא יִשָּׂא בַּעֲוֹן הָאָב וְאָב לֹא יִשָּׂא בַּעֲוֹן הַבֵּן צִדְקַת הַצַּדִּיק עָלָיו תִּהְיֶה וְרִשְׁעַת רשע הָרָשָׁע עָלָיו תִּהְיֶה:
The person who sins, they alone shall die. A child shall not share the burden of a parent's guilt, nor shall a parent share the burden of a child's guilt; the righteousness of the righteous shall be accounted to one alone, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be accounted to one alone.
[JPS translation, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways do parents' decisions impact their children?
2. What is society's role (if any) in preventing iniquity from continuing through generations?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)