Are you rulers really fair when you speak? Do you judge people honestly?

世人哪，你们默然不语，真合公义吗？施行审判，岂按正直吗？

你们缄默不语，真合公义吗？你们审判世人，岂按正直吗？

你们缄默不语，真合公义吗？你们审判世人，岂按正直吗？

你们做官长的主持公道吗？你们的审判公正吗？

掌权者啊！你们真的讲公义吗（本句或译：“你们默然不语，真的讲公义吗”）？你们真的按照正直审判世人吗？

掌权者啊，你们真的讲公义吗？你们真的以正直审判世人吗？

世人哪，你們默然不語，真合公義嗎？施行審判，豈按正直嗎？

你們緘默不語，真合公義嗎？你們審判世人，豈按正直嗎？

你們緘默不語，真合公義嗎？你們審判世人，豈按正直嗎？

你們做官長的主持公道嗎？你們的審判公正嗎？

掌權者啊！你們真的講公義嗎（本句或譯：“你們默然不語，真的講公義嗎”）？你們真的按照正直審判世人嗎？

掌權的啊，你們果真講公義麼？按正直審判人類麼？

掌權者啊，你們真的講公義嗎？你們真的以正直審判世人嗎？

世人歟、爾緘口豈公義、鞫人豈正直乎、

爾曹世人、言義伸冤、豈出誠慤兮。

士師乎、爾曹出言、果公義乎、願曹判斷世人、果按正直乎、

Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?

Justice— do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?

Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?

Do you indeed speak righteousness, you gods? Do you judge fairly, you sons of mankind?

Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?

Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly?

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me. I go to you for safety. I will find safety in the shadow of your wings. There I will stay until the danger is gone.

The Branch will take delight in respecting the Lord. He will not judge things only by the way they look. He won’t make decisions based simply on what people say.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 will put on godliness as if it were his belt. He’ll wear faithfulness around his waist.

The Lord said to Moses,“ Bring me 70 of Israel’s elders. Bring men that you know are leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting. I want them to stand there with you.

God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of leaders. He announces his decisions among them.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?

So I chose the leading men of your tribes who were wise and respected. I appointed them to have authority over you. I made them commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. I appointed them to be officials over the tribes.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.

God, save me from my enemies. Keep me safe from people who are attacking me.

Early the next day they did as they had been told. They entered the temple courtyard. There they began to teach the people. The high priest and his companions arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. The Sanhedrin was a gathering of all the elders of Israel. They sent for the apostles who were in jail.

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.”

All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There the king made a covenant with them in front of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel.

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.

“ A new day is coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time I will raise up for David’s royal line a godly Branch. He will be a King who will rule wisely. He will do what is fair and right in the land.In his days Judah will be saved. Israel will live in safety. And the Branch will be called The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.

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.

“ I said,‘ You leaders are like gods. You are all children of the Most High God.’But you will die, like mere human beings. You will die like every other leader.”

Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest.

A man named Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. He was a good and honest man.Joseph had not agreed with what the leaders had decided and done. He was from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He himself was waiting for God’s kingdom.

God, give the king the ability to judge fairly. He is your royal son. Help him to do what is right.May he rule your people in the right way. May he be fair to those among your people who are hurting.May the mountains and the hills produce rich crops, because the people will do what is right.May the king stand up for those who are hurting. May he save the children of those who are in need. May he crush those who treat others badly.

It was early in the morning. All the chief priests and the elders of the people planned how to put Jesus to death.

A king will come who will do what is right. His officials will govern fairly.