It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.

瞻徇恶人的情面，偏断义人的案件，都为不善。

偏袒恶人的情面，是不好的。审判时使义人受屈，也是不善。

偏袒恶人的情面，是不好的。审判时使义人受屈，也是不善。

袒护恶人、冤枉义人都为不善。

在审判时，偏袒恶人、屈枉义人，是不对的。

顾及恶人的情面，实为不好；不向义人施行公正，也为不善。

瞻徇惡人的情面，偏斷義人的案件，都為不善。

偏袒惡人的情面，是不好的。審判時使義人受屈，也是不善。

偏袒惡人的情面，是不好的。審判時使義人受屈，也是不善。

袒護惡人、冤枉義人都為不善。

在審判時，偏袒惡人、屈枉義人，是不對的。

瞻徇惡人的情面很不好；屈枉義人之正直很不對。

顧及惡人的情面，實為不好；不向義人施行公正，也為不善。

瞻徇惡人之情、枉斷義人之獄、俱為不善、

聽訟毋袒惡、毋枉直。

聽訟庇惡、以直為枉者非善、

It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.

It isn’t good to favor those who do wrong. That would keep justice from those who aren’t guilty.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.

It is not good to show partiality to the guilty, denying an innocent person justice.

To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent.

[ It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice.

To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

“ Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.

“ How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the Lord.

Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

In her letters she commanded:“ Call the citizens together for a time of fasting, and give Naboth a place of honor.And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”So the elders and other town leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters.They called for a fast and put Naboth at a prominent place before the people.Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying,“ He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel,“ Naboth has been stoned to death.”

“ At that time I instructed the judges,‘ You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisionsand impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich. Don’t be afraid of anyone’s anger, for the decision you make is God’s decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.’

He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him.“ Teacher,” they said,“ we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.

They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.

Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.

“ Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him?

Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice.