Ezekiel 33:17

17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.

Ezekiel 33:17 in Other Translations

17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

17 "Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just,' when it is their own way that is not just.

17 “Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right.

17 "'Your people say, "The Master's way isn't fair." But it's the way they're living that isn't fair.

17 "But your people say: The Lord's way isn't fair, even though it is their own way that isn't fair.

Ezekiel 33:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 33:17

Yet the children of thy people say
"Not my people"; for surely the children of God could never say what follows; and one would think that even no man could say it, after so much had been said by the Lord concerning the righteous and the wicked, and his dealings with them, which must appear to be just and right, good and gracious; and yet such were the atheism, the perverseness and peevishness of these people, they went on to say as they had done before: the way of the Lord is not equal:
is not according to the rules of justice and equity. The Targum is, ``the ways of the goodness of the Lord are not made plain (or exposed) unto us.'' The answer to which is, but, as for them, their way is not equal;
according to the rule of the divine word; as for God, his way and methods, both of providence and grace, were right and good; (See Gill on Ezekiel 18:25).

Ezekiel 33:17 In-Context

15 if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.

16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.

18 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it.

19 And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.