(Ezek. 18:5–9).168 Such activity by the righteous, according to Ezek. 18:9, leads to life. At times, however, the term “righteous” refers to the innocence of someone (Exod. 9:27; Jer. 12:1; Lam. 1:18; Dan. 9:14; Neh. 9:33; 2 Chr. 12:6). At others it has a more general sense, referring to the upright person who is blameless and walks with God (e.g., Gen. 6:9). It is important that this word appears in the opening message to David from Yahweh, which is related in David’s “last words” in 2 Sam. 23:3