Deuteronomy 16:18-22

Complete Jewish Bible

Parashah 48: Shof’tim (Judges) 16:18–21:9

¹⁸ “You are to appoint judges and officers for all your gates [in the cities] Adonai your God is giving you, tribe by tribe; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment. ¹⁹ You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright. ²⁰ Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land Adonai your God is giving you.

²¹ “You are not to plant any sort of tree as a sacred pole beside the altar of Adonai your God that you will make for yourselves. ²² Likewise, do not set up a standing-stone; Adonai your God hates such things.