Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, September 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Read the Bible
Easy-to-Read Version
Ezekiel 18:25
"You people might say, ‘The Lord isn't fair!' But listen, family of Israel. I am fair. You are the ones who are not fair!
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
Hebrew Names Version
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Yisra'el: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Yisra'el: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?
King James Version
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
English Standard Version
"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
New American Standard Bible
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
New Century Version
"But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't fair.' Listen, people of Israel. I am fair. It is what you do that is not fair!
"But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't fair.' Listen, people of Israel. I am fair. It is what you do that is not fair!
Amplified Bible
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
World English Bible
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Yet ye say, The way of the Lorde is not equall: heare now, O house of Israel. Is not my way equall? or are not your wayes vnequall?
Yet ye say, The way of the Lorde is not equall: heare now, O house of Israel. Is not my way equall? or are not your wayes vnequall?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
Legacy Standard Bible
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
Berean Standard Bible
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
Contemporary English Version
You people of Israel accuse me of being unfair! But listen—I'm not unfair; you are!
You people of Israel accuse me of being unfair! But listen—I'm not unfair; you are!
Complete Jewish Bible
"So now you say, ‘ Adonai 's way isn't fair.' Listen, house of Isra'el! Is it my way that is unfair? or your ways that are unfair?
"So now you say, ‘ Adonai 's way isn't fair.' Listen, house of Isra'el! Is it my way that is unfair? or your ways that are unfair?
Darby Translation
And ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear then, house of Israel. Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
And ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear then, house of Israel. Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
George Lamsa Translation
Yet you say, The ways of the LORD are not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel; my ways are fair, but it is your ways that are not fair.
Yet you say, The ways of the LORD are not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel; my ways are fair, but it is your ways that are not fair.
Good News Translation
"But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.' Listen to me, you Israelites. Do you think my way of doing things isn't right? It is your way that isn't right.
"But you say, ‘What the Lord does isn't right.' Listen to me, you Israelites. Do you think my way of doing things isn't right? It is your way that isn't right.
Lexham English Bible
"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair!' Listen, now, house of Israel, is my way not fair? Is it not your ways that are not fair?
"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair!' Listen, now, house of Israel, is my way not fair? Is it not your ways that are not fair?
Literal Translation
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel. Is My way not fair? Are your ways not unfair?
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel. Is My way not fair? Are your ways not unfair?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And yet ye saye: Tush, the waye of ye LORDE is not indifferet. Heare therfore ye house of Israel: Is not my waye right? Or, are not youre wayes rather wicked?
And yet ye saye: Tush, the waye of ye LORDE is not indifferet. Heare therfore ye house of Israel: Is not my waye right? Or, are not youre wayes rather wicked?
American Standard Version
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Bible in Basic English
But you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Give ear, now, O children of Israel; is my way not equal? are not your ways unequal?
But you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Give ear, now, O children of Israel; is my way not equal? are not your ways unequal?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Yet ye say: The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is not equal? is it not your ways that are unequal?
Yet ye say: The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is not equal? is it not your ways that are unequal?
King James Version (1611)
Yet yee say; The way of the Lord is not equall. Heare now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equall? are not your wayes vnequall?
Yet yee say; The way of the Lord is not equall. Heare now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equall? are not your wayes vnequall?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And yet ye say, the way of the Lorde is not indifferent. Heare therefore ye house of Israel, is not my way equall? or are not your wayes rather vnequall?
And yet ye say, the way of the Lorde is not indifferent. Heare therefore ye house of Israel, is not my way equall? or are not your wayes rather vnequall?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Yet ye have said, The way of the Lord is not straight. Hear now, all the house of Israel; will not my way be straight? Is your way straight?
Yet ye have said, The way of the Lord is not straight. Hear now, all the house of Israel; will not my way be straight? Is your way straight?
English Revised Version
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And ye seiden, The weie of the Lord is not euene. Therfor, the hous of Israel, here ye, whether my weie is not euene, and not more youre weies ben schrewid?
And ye seiden, The weie of the Lord is not euene. Therfor, the hous of Israel, here ye, whether my weie is not euene, and not more youre weies ben schrewid?
Update Bible Version
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way fair? are not your ways unfair?
Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way fair? are not your ways unfair?
Webster's Bible Translation
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
New English Translation
"Yet you say, ‘The Lord's conduct is unjust!' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?
"Yet you say, ‘The Lord's conduct is unjust!' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?
New King James Version
"Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
"Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
New Living Translation
"Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn't doing what's right!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what's right, or is it you?
"Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn't doing what's right!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what's right, or is it you?
New Life Bible
Yet you say, ‘The Lord is not doing what is right.' Listen, O people of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
Yet you say, ‘The Lord is not doing what is right.' Listen, O people of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
New Revised Standard
Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Can ye then say - The way of My Lord will not be equal? Hear I pray you O house of Israel, Will my way, not be equal? Will not your ways be unequal?
Can ye then say - The way of My Lord will not be equal? Hear I pray you O house of Israel, Will my way, not be equal? Will not your ways be unequal?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye, therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are not rather your ways perverse?
And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye, therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are not rather your ways perverse?
Revised Standard Version
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
Young's Literal Translation
And ye have said, Not pondered is the way of the Lord. Hear, I pray you, O house of Israel, My way -- is it not pondered? Are not your ways unpondered?
And ye have said, Not pondered is the way of the Lord. Hear, I pray you, O house of Israel, My way -- is it not pondered? Are not your ways unpondered?
THE MESSAGE
"Do I hear you saying, ‘That's not fair! God's not fair!'? "Listen, Israel. I'm not fair? You're the ones who aren't fair! If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he'll die for it. He'll die for his own sin. Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he's committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won't die.
"Do I hear you saying, ‘That's not fair! God's not fair!'? "Listen, Israel. I'm not fair? You're the ones who aren't fair! If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he'll die for it. He'll die for his own sin. Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he's committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won't die.
Contextual Overview
21 "Now, if evil people change their lives, they will live and not die. They might stop doing all the bad things they did and begin to carefully obey all my laws. They might become fair and good. 22 God will not remember all the bad things they did. He will remember only their goodness, so they will live!" 23 The Lord God says, "I don't want evil people to die. I want them to change their lives so that they can live! 24 "Now, maybe good people might stop being good. They might change their lives and begin to do all the terrible things that evil people have done in the past. (The evil people changed, so they can live.) So if those good people change and become bad, God will not remember all the good things they did. He will remember that they turned against him and began to sin. So they will die because of their sin. 25 "You people might say, ‘The Lord isn't fair!' But listen, family of Israel. I am fair. You are the ones who are not fair! 26 If good people change and become evil, they must die for the bad things they do. 27 And if evil people change and become good and fair, they will save their lives. They will live! 28 They saw how wicked they were and came back to me. They stopped doing the evil things they did in the past. So they will live! They will not die!" 29 The people of Israel said, "That's not fair! The Lord isn't fair!" "I am fair! You are the ones who are not fair!
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
way: Ezekiel 18:29, Ezekiel 33:17, Ezekiel 33:20, Job 32:2, Job 34:5-10, Job 35:2, Job 40:8, Job 42:4-6, Malachi 2:17, Malachi 3:13-15, Matthew 20:11-15, Romans 3:5, Romans 3:20, Romans 9:20, Romans 10:3
my: Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalms 50:6, Psalms 145:17, Jeremiah 12:1, Zephaniah 3:5, Romans 2:5, Romans 2:6
are: Psalms 50:21, Jeremiah 2:17-23, Jeremiah 2:29-37, Jeremiah 16:10-13
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:7 - reason Job 8:3 - God Job 33:12 - thou Job 33:23 - to Psalms 17:2 - things Psalms 18:25 - thou wilt Isaiah 59:13 - lying Hosea 7:13 - spoken Hosea 14:9 - for Matthew 25:24 - I knew Luke 19:21 - because Romans 2:2 - judgment
Cross-References
Genesis 18:1
Later, the Lord again appeared to Abraham near the oak trees of Mamre. It was the hottest part of the day, and Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent.
Later, the Lord again appeared to Abraham near the oak trees of Mamre. It was the hottest part of the day, and Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent.
Genesis 18:2
He looked up and saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw the men, he ran to them and bowed before them.
He looked up and saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw the men, he ran to them and bowed before them.
Genesis 18:5
I will get some food for you, and you can eat as much as you want. Then you can continue your journey." The three men said, "Do as you wish."
I will get some food for you, and you can eat as much as you want. Then you can continue your journey." The three men said, "Do as you wish."
Genesis 18:6
Abraham hurried to the tent. He said to Sarah, "Quickly, prepare enough flour for three loaves of bread."
Abraham hurried to the tent. He said to Sarah, "Quickly, prepare enough flour for three loaves of bread."
Genesis 18:7
Then Abraham ran to his cattle. He took his best young calf and gave it to the servant there. He told the servant to quickly kill the calf and prepare it for food.
Then Abraham ran to his cattle. He took his best young calf and gave it to the servant there. He told the servant to quickly kill the calf and prepare it for food.
Genesis 18:10
Then one of them said, "I will come again in the spring. At that time your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening in the tent and heard these things.
Then one of them said, "I will come again in the spring. At that time your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening in the tent and heard these things.
Genesis 18:11
Abraham and Sarah were very old. Sarah was past the right age for women to have children.
Abraham and Sarah were very old. Sarah was past the right age for women to have children.
Genesis 18:12
So she laughed to herself and said, "I am old, and my husband is old. I am too old to have a baby."
So she laughed to herself and said, "I am old, and my husband is old. I am too old to have a baby."
Genesis 18:13
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Sarah laughed and said she was too old to have a baby.
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Sarah laughed and said she was too old to have a baby.
Genesis 18:17
The Lord said to himself, "Should I tell Abraham what I am going to do now?
The Lord said to himself, "Should I tell Abraham what I am going to do now?
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Yet ye say,.... Notwithstanding these plain instances, which show the equity of God in his proceedings, and vindicate his justice in the dispensations of his providence; yet such was the blindness and stupidity of these people, or rather their stubbornness, obstinacy, and impudence, that they still insisted upon it that
the way of the Lord is not equal; just and right; is not even, according to the rules of justice and equity; or is not ordered aright, is not steady, and firm, and consistent with himself, and the declaration of his will; a very bold and blasphemous charge, and yet the Lord condescends to reason with them about it:
hear now, O house of Israel; the ten tribes that were now in captivity; or the Jews that were carried captive with Jeconiah, with those that were still in Jerusalem and Judea; these are called upon to hear the Lord, what he had to say in vindication of himself from this charge, as it was but just and reasonable they should:
is not my way equal? plain and even, constant and uniform, according to the obvious rules of justice and truth? can any instance be given to the contrary? what is to be said to support the charge against me? bring forth your strong reasons if you cart, and prove what is asserted:
are not your ways unequal? it is plain they are; your actions, your course of life, are manifest deviations from my law, and from all the rules of righteousness and goodness; it is you that are in the wrong, and I in the right.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Equal - literally, “weighed out, balanced.” Man’s ways are arbitrary, God’s ways are governed by a self-imposed law, which makes all consistent and harmonious.
