Deuteronomy 16:19

Appointing Judges And Officials

¹⁸ "Appoint judges and civil servants according to your tribes in all your cities that the LORD your God is about to give you, so they may judge the people impartially. ¹⁹ You must not twist justice, show favoritism, or take bribes, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the speech of the righteous. ²⁰ You are to pursue justice and only justice so you may live and possess the land that the LORD your God is about to give you."

Bribe Blinds the Eyes

Pervert Justice

Show Partiality

Turn Aside

Wise Man

Wise Men

Be Partial

Show Favoritism

Wrest Judgment

Exodus 23:2

You are not to follow the majority in doing wrong, and you are not to testify in a lawsuit so as to follow the majority and pervert justice.

Leviticus 19:15

"You are not to be unjust in deciding a case. You are not to show partiality to the poor or honor the great. Instead, decide the case of your neighbor with righteousness."

Ecclesiastes 7:7

Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Exodus 23:6-8

"You are not to pervert justice for the poor among you in their lawsuits.

Deuteronomy 10:17

For the LORD your God is the God of all gods, the LORD of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favoritism or take bribes.

Deuteronomy 24:17

"Don't deny justice to a foreigner or to an orphan, nor take a widow's garment as collateral for a loan.

Deuteronomy 27:19

""Cursed is the one who perverts justice due the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow.' "Then all the people are to respond by saying, "Amen!'

Proverbs 17:23

The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice.

Proverbs 24:23

Here are some more proverbs from wise people: It isn't good to show partiality in judgment.

Deuteronomy 1:16-17

I charged your judges at that time, "When you hold a hearing between brothers, judge fairly between a man and his brother or between foreigners.

1 Samuel 8:3

His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

1 Samuel 12:3

Here I am. Testify against me in the LORD's presence and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken? Who have I cheated? Who have I oppressed? Who bribed me to look the other way? I'll restore it to you."

Job 31:21-22

if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court,

Proverbs 24:28

Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to practice what is good; seek justice, alleviate oppression, defend orphans in court, and plead the widow's case.

Isaiah 1:23

Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. All of them are lovers of bribes and are runners after gifts. They don't bring justice to orphans, and the widow's case never comes up for review in their court."

Isaiah 33:15

The one who walks righteously and has spoken sincere words, who rejects gain from extortion and waves his hand, rejecting bribes, who blocks his ears from hearing plots of murder and shuts his eyes against seeing evil

Jeremiah 5:28

and have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to their evil deeds. They don't argue the case of the orphan to secure justice. They don't defend the rights of the poor.

Ezekiel 22:12

They take bribes among you to shed blood. You've taken usury and exacted interest. You've gained control over your neighbor through extortion. And you've forgotten me," declares the Lord GOD.

Micah 7:3

And speaking of evil, they practice it eagerly with both hands! Both leader and judge demand a bribe, the famous confess their perverted desires, and they scheme together.

Habakkuk 1:4

Therefore, the Law has become paralyzed, and justice never comes about. Because criminals outnumber the righteous, whenever judgments are issued, they come out crooked."

Zephaniah 3:3-5

Its national officials are roaring lions; its judges are like wolves of the night that don't leave the bones for the morning.

Acts 10:34

Then Peter began to speak: "Now I understand that God shows no partiality.

Acts 16:37

But Paul told the guards, "The magistrates have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us into jail, even though we are Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? Certainly not! Have them come and escort us out."

Acts 23:3

At this Paul told him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"