Deuteronomy 16:18-17:13

Good News Translation

The Administration of Justice

¹⁸ “Appoint judges and other officials in every town that the Lord your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially. ^19 (A)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. ²⁰ Always be fair and just, so that you will occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you and so that you will continue to live there.

^21 (B)“When you make an altar for the Lord your God, do not put beside it a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah. ^22 (C)And do not set up any stone pillar for idol worship; the Lord hates them.

17 “Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God cattle or sheep that have any defects; the Lord hates this.

² “Suppose you hear that in one of your towns some men or women have sinned against the Lord and broken his covenant ^3 (D)by worshiping and serving other gods or the sun or the moon or the stars, contrary to the Lord's command. ⁴ If you hear such a report, then investigate it thoroughly. If it is true that this evil thing has happened in Israel, ⁵ then take them outside the town and stone them to death. ^6 (E)However, they may be put to death only if two or more witnesses testify against them; they are not to be put to death if there is only one witness. ^7 (F)The witnesses are to throw the first stones, and then the rest of the people are to stone them; in this way you will get rid of this evil.

⁸ “It may be that some cases will be too difficult for the local judges to decide, such as certain cases of property rights or of bodily injury or those cases that involve a distinction between murder and manslaughter. When this happens, go to the one place of worship chosen by the Lord your God, ⁹ and present your case to the levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time, and let them decide the case. ¹⁰ They will give their decision, and you are to do exactly as they tell you. ¹¹ Accept their verdict and follow their instructions in every detail. ¹² Anyone who dares to disobey either the judge or the priest on duty is to be put to death; in this way you will remove this evil from Israel. ¹³ Then everyone will hear of it and be afraid, and no one else will dare to act in such a way.