Verse 1
If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;
Referenced Verses
- Prov 17:15 : 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
- Deut 17:8-9 : 8 If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose; 9 and you shall come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days: and you shall inquire; and they shall show you the sentence of judgment.
- Deut 19:17-19 : 17 then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 18 and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother; 19 then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
- 2 Sam 23:3 : 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
- 2 Chr 19:6-9 : 6 and said to the judges, "Consider what you do: for you don't judge for man, but for Yahweh; and [he is] with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes." 8 Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers' [houses] of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem. 9 He commanded them, saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 Whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they not be guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you shall not be guilty.
- Job 29:7-9 : 7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street. 8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood. 9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. 11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me: 12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him, 13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn't know, I searched out. 17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
- Ps 58:1-2 : 1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? 2 No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
- Ps 82:2-4 : 2 "How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" Selah. 3 "Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."
- Exod 23:6-7 : 6 "You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 "Keep far from a false charge, and don't kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked.
- Deut 1:16-17 : 16 I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is living with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.
- Deut 16:18-20 : 18 You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not wrest justice: you shall not respect persons; neither shall you take a bribe; for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live, and inherit the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy."
- Isa 1:17 : 17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow."
- Isa 1:23 : 23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They don't judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
- Isa 5:23 : 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!
- Isa 11:4 : 4 but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
- Isa 32:1-2 : 1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice. 2 A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the storm, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a large rock in a weary land.
- Jer 21:12 : 12 House of David, thus says Yahweh, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
- Ezek 44:24 : 24 In a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to my ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts; and they shall make my Sabbaths holy.
- Mic 3:1-2 : 1 I said, "Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn't it for you to know justice? 2 You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones;
- Hab 1:4 : 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.
- Hab 1:13 : 13 You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
- Mal 3:18 : 18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.
- Matt 3:10 : 10 "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.