Deuteronomy 16:19
Good News Translation
They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

New Revised Standard Version
You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

New American Bible
You must not distort justice: you shall not show partiality; you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes even of the wise and twists the words even of the just.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just.

wrest

Deuteronomy 24:17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger nor of the fatherless, neither shalt thou take away the widow's raiment for a pledge.

Deuteronomy 27:19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, of the fatherless and the widow: and all the people shall say: Amen.

Exodus 23:2,6-8 Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth. . . .

Leviticus 19:15 Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor: nor honour the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbour according to justice.

1 Samuel 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

1 Samuel 12:3 Speak of me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whether I have taken any man's ox, or ass: if I have wronged any man, if I have oppressed any man, if I have taken a bribe at any man's hand: and I will despise it this day, and will restore it to you.

Job 31:21,22 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate: . . .

Proverbs 17:23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

Isaiah 1:17,23 Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow. . . .

Isaiah 33:15 He that walketh in justices, and speaketh truth, that casteth away avarice by oppression, and shaketh his hands from all bribes, that stoppeth his ears lest he hear blood, and shutteth his eyes that he may see no evil.

Jeremiah 5:28 They are grown gross and fat: and have most wickedly transgressed my words. They have not judged the cause of the widow, they have not managed the cause of the fatherless, and they have not judged the judgment of the poor.

Ezekiel 22:12 They have taken gifts in thee to shed blood: thou hast taken usury and increase, and hast covetously oppressed thy neighbours: and thou hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.

Micah 7:3 The evil of their hands they call good: the prince requireth, and the judge is for giving: and the great man hath uttered the desire of his soul, and they have troubled it.

Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is torn in pieces, and judgment cometh not to the end: because the wicked prevaileth against the just, therefore wrong judgment goeth forth.

Zephaniah 3:3-5 Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning. . . .

Acts 16:37 But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now do they thrust us out privately? Not so: but let them come.

Acts 23:3 Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For, sittest thou to judge me according to the law and, contrary to the law, commandest me to be struck?

respect

Deuteronomy 1:16,17 And I commanded them, saying: Hear them, and judge that which is just: whether he be one of your country, or a stranger. . . .

Deuteronomy 10:17 Because the Lord your God he is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a great God and mighty and terrible, who accepteth no person nor taketh bribes.

Exodus 23:7,8 Thou shalt fly lying. The innocent and just person thou shalt not put to death: because I abhor the wicked. . . .

Proverbs 24:23,28 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment. . . .

Acts 10:34 And Peter opening his mouth, said: in very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons.

words.

Context
Judges and Justice
18Thou shalt appoint judges and magistrates in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in all thy tribes: that they may judge the people with just judgment, 19And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just.20Thou shalt follow justly after that which is just: that thou mayst live and possess the land, which the Lord thy God shall give thee.…
Cross References
Exodus 18:21
And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens,

Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth.

Exodus 23:3
Neither shalt thou favour a poor man in judgment.

Exodus 23:8
Neither shalt thou take bribes, which even blind the wise, and pervert the words of the just.

Leviticus 19:15
Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor: nor honour the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbour according to justice.

Deuteronomy 1:17
There shall be no difference of persons, you shall hear the little as well as the great: neither shall you respect any man's person, because it is the judgment of God. And if any thing seem hard to you, refer it to me, and I will hear it.

Deuteronomy 10:17
Because the Lord your God he is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a great God and mighty and terrible, who accepteth no person nor taketh bribes.

Deuteronomy 16:18
Thou shalt appoint judges and magistrates in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in all thy tribes: that they may judge the people with just judgment,

Deuteronomy 24:17
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger nor of the fatherless, neither shalt thou take away the widow's raiment for a pledge.

1 Samuel 8:1
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.

1 Samuel 8:3
And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

1 Samuel 12:3
Speak of me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whether I have taken any man's ox, or ass: if I have wronged any man, if I have oppressed any man, if I have taken a bribe at any man's hand: and I will despise it this day, and will restore it to you.

Psalm 15:5
He that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things, shall not be moved for ever.

Proverbs 15:27
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.

Proverbs 17:23
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

Proverbs 18:5
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

Proverbs 24:23
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.

Proverbs 31:5
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.

Ecclesiastes 7:7
Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

Ezekiel 22:12
They have taken gifts in thee to shed blood: thou hast taken usury and increase, and hast covetously oppressed thy neighbours: and thou hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.

Deuteronomy 16:18
Top of Page
Top of Page