18 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it.
18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it.
18 When good people turn back from living good lives and plunge into sin, they'll die for it.
18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.
18 For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:18
Commentary on Ezekiel 33:10-20
(Read Ezekiel 33:10-20)
Those who despaired of finding mercy with God, are answered with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy. The ruin of the city and state was determined, but that did not relate to the final state of persons. God says to the righteous, that he shall surely live. But many who have made profession, have been ruined by proud confidence in themselves. Man trusts to his own righteousness, and presuming on his own sufficiency, he is brought to commit iniquity. If those who have lived a wicked life repent and forsake their wicked ways, they shall be saved. Many such amazing and blessed changes have been wrought by the power of Divine grace. When there is a settled separation between a man and sin, there shall no longer be a separation between him and God.