Do Not Distort Justice

¹⁸ “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your gates of the towns which Yahweh your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

⁵ And he appointed ^(A)judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, in each city. ⁶ And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for ^(B)you do not judge for man but for Yahweh who is with you ^[a]when you render judgment. ⁷ So now then let the dread of Yahweh be upon you; ^[b]be careful what you do, because ^[c]with Yahweh our God ^(C)there is no unrighteousness ^(D)or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

⁸ In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some ^(E)of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh and to judge ^[d]disputes. So they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ Then he commanded them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and wholeheartedly. ^10 (F)Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before Yahweh and ^(G)wrath may not come on you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not be guilty. ¹¹ And behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in ^[e](H)all that pertains to Yahweh, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in ^[f]all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. ^(I)Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the one who is good.”