Suppose two people don’t agree about something. Then they must take their case to court. The judges will decide the case. They will let the one who isn’t guilty go free. And they will punish the one who is guilty.

“人若有争讼，来听审判，审判官就要定义人有理，定恶人有罪。

“人与人若有争讼，要求审判，当宣判义人为义，恶人有罪的时候，

“人与人若有争讼，要求审判，当宣判义人为义，恶人有罪的时候，

“如果发生纠纷，双方告上法庭，审判官要判明是非。

“如果人与人之间有争讼的事，就上法庭去；审判官审判他们的时候，要定义人有理，定恶人有罪；

「人若有爭訟，來聽審判，審判官就要定義人有理，定惡人有罪。

「人與人若有爭訟，要求審判，當宣判義人為義，惡人有罪的時候，

「人與人若有爭訟，要求審判，當宣判義人為義，惡人有罪的時候，

「如果發生糾紛，雙方告上法庭，審判官要判明是非。

“如果人與人之間有爭訟的事，就上法庭去；審判官審判他們的時候，要定義人有理，定惡人有罪；

『人與人之間若有爭訟的事上審判廳，官府審判他們，定有理的無罪，定無理的有罪；

人有訟事、就於士師、士師聽之、必直其義者、罪其惡者、

人有訟事、必就刑官、刑官聽訟、以義人為義、以惡人為惡。

人有爭訟、就士師求審、士師聽訟、以義人為義、以惡人為惡、

When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.

“ If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,

“ Suppose two people take a dispute to court, and the judges declare that one is right and the other is wrong.

“ If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty.

“ If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty,

“ If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

“ If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty.

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that[ the judges] may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty.

If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.

People will bring their cases to your courts. But some cases will be too hard for you to judge. They might be about murders, attacks or other crimes. Then take those hard cases to the place the Lord your God will choose.Go to a priest, who is a Levite. And go to the judge who is in office at that time. Ask them for their decision. They will give it to you.

The Lord hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished.

Learn to do what is right! Treat people fairly. Help those who are treated badly. Stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. And do the same thing for widows.

He will always do what is right when he judges those who are in need. He’ll be completely fair when he makes decisions about poor people. When he commands that people be punished, it will happen. When he orders that evil people be put to death, it will take place.

He told the judges,“ Think carefully about what you do. After all, you aren’t judging for human beings. You are judging for the Lord. He’s with you every time you make a decision.Have respect for the Lord. Judge carefully. He is always right. He treats everyone the same. Our God doesn’t want his judges to take money from people who want special favors.”In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat chose some Levites and priests. He also chose some leaders of Israelite families. He appointed all of them to apply the law of the Lord fairly. He wanted them to decide cases. He wanted them to settle matters between people. All those judges lived in Jerusalem.Here are the orders Jehoshaphat gave them. He said,“ Have respect for the Lord. Serve him faithfully. Do it with all your heart.Cases will come to you from your people who live in the other cities. The cases might be about murder or other matters dealt with by the law, commands, directions and rules. Warn the people not to sin against the Lord. If you don’t warn them, he will be angry with you and your people. Do what I say. Then you won’t sin.

Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes. Do it in every town the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly.Do what is right. Treat everyone the same. Don’t take money from people who want special favors. It makes those who are wise close their eyes to the truth. It twists the words of those who have done nothing wrong.Do only what is right. Then you will live. You will take over the land the Lord your God is giving you.

“ Be fair to your poor people in their court cases.Do not have anything to do with a false charge. Do not put to death people not guilty of doing anything wrong. I will not let guilty people go free.

Here is what the Lord says to you who belong to David’s royal house.“‘ “Every morning do what is right and fair. Save those who have been robbed. Set them free from the people who have treated them badly. If you do not, my anger will blaze out against you. It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. No one will be able to put it out.

Your eyes are too pure to look at what is evil. You can’t put up with the wrong things people do. So why do you put up with those who can’t be trusted? The evil Babylonians swallow up those who are more godly than themselves. So why are you silent?

How terrible for those who take money to set guilty people free! How terrible for those who don’t treat good people fairly!

The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me,‘ A king must rule over people in a way that is right. He must have respect for God when he rules.

Are you rulers really fair when you speak? Do you judge people honestly?No, in your hearts you plan to be unfair. With your hands you do terrible things on the earth.

Then the two people in the case must stand in front of the Lord. They must stand in front of the priests and the judges who are in office at that time.The judges must check out the matter carefully. And suppose the witness is proved to be lying. Then he has said something false in court against another Israelite.So do to the lying witness what he tried to do to the other person. Get rid of that evil witness.

Your rulers refuse to obey the Lord. They join forces with robbers. All of them love to accept money from those who want special favors. They are always looking for gifts from other people. They don’t stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. They don’t do it for widows either.

The ax is ready to cut the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.

“ When people do not agree, the priests must serve as judges between them. They must make their decisions based on my laws. They must obey my laws and rules for all my appointed feasts. And they must keep my Sabbath days holy.

Here is what I commanded your judges at that time. I said,“ Listen to your people’s cases when they argue with one another. Judge them fairly. It doesn’t matter whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and an outsider living among you.When you judge them, treat everyone the same. Listen to those who are important and those who are not. Don’t be afraid of anyone. God is the highest judge. Bring me any case that is too hard for you. I’ll listen to it.”

He says,“ How long will you stand up for those who aren’t fair to others? How long will you show mercy to sinful people?Stand up for the weak and for children whose fathers have died. Protect the rights of people who are poor or treated badly.Save those who are weak and needy. Save them from the power of sinful people.

A king will come who will do what is right. His officials will govern fairly.Each official will be like a place to get out of the wind. He will be like a place to hide from storms. He’ll be like streams of water flowing in the desert. He’ll be like the shadow of a huge rock in a dry and thirsty land.

“ In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

Then once again you will see the difference between godly people and sinful people. And you will see the difference between those who serve me and those who do not.

Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.Speak up and judge fairly. Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.

The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do. Fairness never comes out on top. Sinful people surround those who do what is right. So people are never treated fairly.

Then I said,“ Listen, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You should want to judge others fairly.But you hate what is good. And you love what is evil. You are like someone who tears the skin off my people. You pull the meat off their bones.