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“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.

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He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.

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The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,

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“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,

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The godly care about the rights of the poor;
    the wicked don’t care at all.

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The righteous care about justice for the poor,(A)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

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Psalm 8

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[a]

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
    to tell of your strength,[b]
silencing your enemies
    and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:Title Hebrew according to the gittith.
  2. 8:2 Greek version reads to give you praise. Compare Matt 21:16.
  3. 8:4 Hebrew what is man that you should think of him, / the son of man that you should care for him?

Psalm 8[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] A psalm of David.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name(A) in all the earth!

You have set your glory(B)
    in the heavens.(C)
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold(D) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe(E) and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,(F)
    the work of your fingers,(G)
the moon and the stars,(H)
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[c](I)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
  2. Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?

Judgment against Israel’s Leaders

I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel!
    You are supposed to know right from wrong,
but you are the very ones
    who hate good and love evil.
You skin my people alive
    and tear the flesh from their bones.
Yes, you eat my people’s flesh,
    strip off their skin,
    and break their bones.
You chop them up
    like meat for the cooking pot.

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Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Then I said,

“Listen, you leaders(A) of Jacob,
    you rulers of Israel.
Should you not embrace justice,
    you who hate good and love evil;
who tear the skin from my people
    and the flesh from their bones;(B)
who eat my people’s flesh,(C)
    strip off their skin
    and break their bones in pieces;(D)
who chop(E) them up like meat for the pan,
    like flesh for the pot?(F)

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14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[a]
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16     Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”[b]
18     “They have no fear of God at all.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:14 Ps 10:7 (Greek version).
  2. 3:15-17 Isa 59:7-8.
  3. 3:18 Ps 36:1.

14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[a](A)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[b](B)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[c](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  2. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  3. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1

“Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls is bent on murder. Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you. You despise my holy things and violate my Sabbath days of rest.

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“‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.(A) In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;(B) in you they have oppressed the foreigner(C) and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.(D) You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.(E)

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16 He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
    and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
    says the Lord.
17 “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!
    You murder the innocent,
    oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

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16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(A)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(B) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(C)
on shedding innocent blood(D)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(E)

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“Those were the days when I went to the city gate
    and took my place among the honored leaders.
The young stepped aside when they saw me,
    and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
The princes stood in silence
    and put their hands over their mouths.
10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,
    holding their tongues in respect.

11 “All who heard me praised me.
    All who saw me spoke well of me.
12 For I assisted the poor in their need
    and the orphans who required help.
13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
    And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
14 Everything I did was honest.
    Righteousness covered me like a robe,
    and I wore justice like a turban.
15 I served as eyes for the blind
    and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor
    and assisted strangers who needed help.
17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
    and plucked their victims from their teeth.

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“When I went to the gate(A) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside(B)
    and the old men rose to their feet;(C)
the chief men refrained from speaking(D)
    and covered their mouths with their hands;(E)
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,(F)
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.(G)
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,(H)
12 because I rescued the poor(I) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless(J) who had none to assist them.(K)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;(L)
    I made the widow’s(M) heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness(N) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.(O)
15 I was eyes(P) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.(Q)
16 I was a father to the needy;(R)
    I took up the case(S) of the stranger.(T)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims(U) from their teeth.(V)

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Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges[a] for cases involving the Lord’s regulations and for civil disputes. These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:8 As in Greek version; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

There is, however, some good(A) in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles(B) and have set your heart on seeking God.(C)

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges(D) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, “Consider carefully what you do,(E) because you are not judging for mere mortals(F) but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice(G) or partiality(H) or bribery.”

In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,(I) priests(J) and heads of Israelite families to administer(K) the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord.

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21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.

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21 But select capable men(A) from all the people—men who fear(B) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(C)—and appoint them as officials(D) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(E) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(F) it with you.

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Your roads are deserted;
    no one travels them anymore.
The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty
    and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses.[a]
    They have no respect for anyone.

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Footnotes

  1. 33:8 As in Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads care nothing for the cities.

The highways are deserted,
    no travelers(A) are on the roads.(B)
The treaty is broken,(C)
    its witnesses[a] are despised,
    no one is respected.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 33:8 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text / the cities