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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”

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. 20 Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

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