²⁴ Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

¹⁵ You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone.

⁹ But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

⁴ doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

A Warning against Prejudice

2 My dear brothers and sisters,^[a] how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

More Sayings of the Wise

²³ Here are some further sayings of the wise:

Psalm 58

For the choir director: A psalm^[a] of David, to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

Justice for the People

¹⁸ “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. ¹⁹ You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.

¹⁶ “At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions ¹⁷ and impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich. Don’t be afraid of anyone’s anger, for the decision you make is God’s decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.’