Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
    both are detestable to the Lord.

Read full chapter

15 Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous—
    the Lord detests both of these.

Read full chapter

26 It is wrong to punish the godly for being good
    or to flog leaders for being honest.

Read full chapter

26 It isn’t good to punish the righteous,
    to strike the honorable for their integrity.

Read full chapter

It is not right to acquit the guilty
    or deny justice to the innocent.

Read full chapter

Favoring the wicked isn’t good;
    it denies justice to the righteous.

Read full chapter

15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
    but it terrifies evildoers.

Read full chapter

15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
    but dreaded by those who do evil.

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
    save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
    For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
    He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
    and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know about it,”
    the one who weighs hearts—doesn’t he understand?
    The one who protects your life—he knows.
    He makes people pay for their actions.

Read full chapter

More Sayings of the Wise

23 Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
    will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
    rich blessings will be showered on them.

Read full chapter

More sayings of the wise

23 These are also the sayings of the wise:

Partiality in judgment isn’t good.

24 Those who say to the guilty, “You are innocent”—
    the people will curse them.
    Nations will condemn them.
25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them.
    A rich blessing will come to them.

Read full chapter

Evil people don’t understand justice,
    but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

Read full chapter

Evil people don’t understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

Read full chapter

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
    but justice comes from the Lord.

Read full chapter

26 Many seek access to the ruler,
    but justice comes from the Lord.

Read full chapter