Verses 18-19 are a short summary of the teaching on individual responsibility in verses 10-16 (compare 18.26-27).

When the righteous turns from his righteousness: See verse 12.

And commits iniquity: See verse 13.

He shall die for it: Obedient people who sin will die because of their sin. Contemporary English Version says “they will be put to death, because they have sinned.”

And when the wicked turns from his wickedness: See verse 12.

And does what is lawful and right: See verse 14.

He shall live by it: Disobedient people who stop sinning will live because of their obedience.

As we have already suggested, translators may use plural instead of singular for the righteous and the wicked. A model of verses 18-19 that does this is:

• 18 When the obedient people turn away from doing what is right, and commit sin, they will die for it. 19 And when the disobedient people turn from doing evil and start following my commandments, then they will live because of that.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .