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18 “You shall appoint judges and officials for you in all your towns[a] that Yahweh your God is giving to you throughout your tribes, and you shall render for the people righteous judgments.[b] 19 You shall not subvert[c] justice; you shall not show partiality;[d] and you shall not take a bribe, for the bribe makes blind the eyes of the wise and misrepresents the words of the righteous. 20 Justice, only justice[e] you shall pursue, so that you may live, and you shall take possession of the land that Yahweh your God is giving to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 16:18 Literally “gates”
  2. Deuteronomy 16:18 Literally “a judgment based on righteousness”
  3. Deuteronomy 16:19 Or “distort/pervert”
  4. Deuteronomy 16:19 Literally “recognize faces”
  5. Deuteronomy 16:20 Literally “justice justice”

Appointing Judges and Officials

18 “Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Do not deny justice or show partiality to anyone. Do not accept a bribe, for it blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.(A) 20 Pursue justice and justice alone, so that you will live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.(B)

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