Witnesses

15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.(A)

16 If a malicious witness(B) takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, 17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges(C) who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation,(D) and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, 19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party.(E) You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid,(F) and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity:(G) life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.(H)

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15 (A)A single witness shall not rise up against a person regarding any wrongdoing or any sin [a]that he commits; on the [b]testimony of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. 16 (B)If a malicious witness rises up against a person to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17 then both people who have the dispute shall stand (C)before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. 18 And the judges (D)shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has testified against his brother falsely, 19 then (E)you shall do to him just as he had planned to do to his brother. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you. 20 And (F)the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. 21 So [c](G)you shall not show pity: (H)life for life, (I)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 19:15 Lit in any sin, that he sins
  2. Deuteronomy 19:15 Lit mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three
  3. Deuteronomy 19:21 Lit your eye

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;

17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

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