יחזקאל, פרק י״ח, פסוק כ״ו

A righteous person abandoning a life of goodness for a path of evil presents a deep tragedy. This departure is not merely a temporary slip or a momentary failure. Rather, it represents a profound shift where the individual actually regrets the good deeds of his past and actively chooses to pursue evil from that point forward [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Because of this complete change in direction, the resulting punishment is twofold. First, the person is held accountable for abandoning the good path and regretting his past righteousness—a failure that is considered even more severe precisely because of the high spiritual level he had previously achieved. Second, he faces consequences for the actual evil deeds he is now committing [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

The ultimate consequence of this turn to evil is death, but this is not an arbitrary shift in how God treats the person. Instead, it is the direct outcome of the individual's own choices. The sin itself is what brings about his end [מלבי״ם]. However, this consequence can also be understood as an act of kindness. By passing away while engaged in wrongdoing, the person is prevented from continuing down a dark path and deepening his sins even further [מצודת דוד].

Through the tragic description of a righteous person's fall, an encouraging principle emerges regarding a wicked person who wishes to repent. Just as past goodness does not guarantee future standing if one turns to evil, a person's past mistakes never permanently seal his fate. No matter what has happened before, the opportunity to change course and repair one's life always remains open [ביאור שטיינזלץ].