Guarding the paths of justice,
And He (A)watches over the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern (B)righteousness, justice,
And integrity, and every (C)good path.

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for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.(A)

Then you will understand(B) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.

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20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

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20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(A)
    along the paths of justice,

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The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

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23 (A)Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor,
But [a]it is swept away by injustice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:23 Lit there is what is swept

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

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10 A divine (A)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.
11 A (B)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [b]weights of the bag are His [c]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (C)throne is established on righteousness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
  2. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  3. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.(A)

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(B)

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(C)

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15 One who (A)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

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

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23 A wicked person accepts a (A)bribe [a]from an inside pocket
To (B)pervert the ways of justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly

23 The wicked accept bribes(A) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(B)

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26 It is also not good to (A)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

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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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To (A)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (B)suppress the righteous in judgment.

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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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28 A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [a](A)swallows wrongdoing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:28 Another reading is pours out

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(A)

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To do (A)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they (A)refuse to act with justice.

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The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(A)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

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