15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent(A)
    the Lord detests them both.(B)

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

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26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(A)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

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

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It is not good to be partial to the wicked(A)
    and so deprive the innocent of justice.(B)

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

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15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(A)

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

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11 Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.(A)
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs(B) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay(C) everyone according to what they have done?(D)

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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.

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Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:(A)

To show partiality(B) in judging is not good:(C)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(D)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

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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.

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Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

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

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26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(A)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(B)

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

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