Exodus 23:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Justice for All
23 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.(A) 2 You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice,[a](B) 3 nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.
4 “When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.(C)
5 “When you see the donkey of one who hates you struggling under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.(D)
6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits.(E) 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty.(F) 8 You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds officials and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.(G)
9 “You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.(H)
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- 23.2 Gk: Heb lacks justice
Exodus 23:1-9
Lexham English Bible
Regulations Regarding Justice
23 “‘You will not spread[a] a false report. Do not lift your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. 2 You will not follow[b] a majority[c] for evil, and you will not testify concerning a legal dispute to turn aside after a majority[d] to pervert justice. 3 You will not be partial to a powerless person[e] in his legal dispute.
4 “‘If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of your enemy lying down under its burden, you will refrain from abandoning him. You will surely arrange[f] it with him.
6 “‘You will not pervert the justice of your poor in his legal dispute. 7 You will stay far from a false charge,[g] and do not kill the innocent and the righteous, because I will not declare the wicked righteous.[h] 8 And you will not take a bribe, because the bribe makes the sighted blind and ruins the words of the righteous. 9 And you will not oppress an alien; you yourselves know the feelings[i] of the alien, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
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- Exodus 23:1 Literally “lift”
- Exodus 23:2 Literally “be behind”
- Exodus 23:2 Or “many” or “the many”
- Exodus 23:2 Or “many” or “the many”
- Exodus 23:3 Or “a poor person”
- Exodus 23:5 Or “restore” or “put in order”
- Exodus 23:7 Literally “word of deception”
- Exodus 23:7 Or “treat as innocent” or “acquit”
- Exodus 23:9 Or “inner self” or “soul”
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