Laws Concerning Witnesses

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. (A)Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If (B)a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, (C)before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall (D)inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 (E)then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil[a] from your midst. 20 And the rest (F)shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 (G)Your eye shall not pity. (H)It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 19:19 Or evil person

15 “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

16 “If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, 17 then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, 19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you. 20 Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing. 21 You must show no pity for the guilty! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

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