Laws of Justice and Mercy

23 “Do not spread false reports.^(A) Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.^(B)

¹⁶ If a malicious witness^(A) 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^(B) who are in office at the time. ¹⁸ The judges must make a thorough investigation,^(C) 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.^(D) You must purge the evil from among you. ²⁰ The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid,^(E) and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. ²¹ Show no pity:^(F) life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.^(G)

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(A) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses^(B) came forward.

Finally two^(C) came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”^(D)

¹⁶ “‘Do not go about spreading slander^(A) among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.^(B) I am the Lord.