Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Holman Bible
Do not deny justice or show partiality to anyone. Do not accept a bribe, for it blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
A Conservative Version
Thou shall not distort justice. Thou shall not respect persons, neither shall thou take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
American Standard Version
Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Amplified
You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
Bible in Basic English
You are not to be moved in your judging by a man's position, you are not to take rewards; for rewards make the eyes of the wise man blind, and the decisions of the upright false.
Darby Translation
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a bribe; for the bribe blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Julia Smith Translation
Thou shalt not turn away Judgment; thou shalt not look upon and thou shalt not take a gift, for the gift will blind the eyes of the wise and will pervert the words of the just.
King James 2000
You shall not pervert judgment; you shall not show partiality, neither take a bribe: for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Lexham Expanded Bible
You shall not subvert justice; you shall not {show partiality}; and you shall not take a bribe, for the bribe makes blind [the] eyes of [the] wise and misrepresents [the] words of [the] righteous.
Modern King James verseion
You shall not pervert judgment; you shall not respect persons, nor take a gift. For a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Wrest not the law, nor know any person, neither take any reward: for gifts blind the wise and pervert the words of the righteous.
NET Bible
You must not pervert justice or show favor. Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort the words of the righteous.
New Heart English Bible
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.
The Emphasized Bible
Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not take note of faces, - nor shalt thou accept a bribe, for the bribe, blindeth the eyes of wise men, and perverteth the words of righteous men.
Webster
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift; for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
World English Bible
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.
Youngs Literal Translation
Thou dost not turn aside judgment; thou dost not discern faces, nor take a bribe, for the bribe blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Themes
Blindness » What blinds people
Bribery » What gifts (bribes) do
Bribery » Not taking gifts (bribes)
Courts » Miscellaneous topics relating to courts and judicial procedure » Laws for judges
Courts of justice » Judges of » Not to take bribes
Earthly » Reward » Earthly, a source of temptation
Topics
Interlinear
Natah
Mishpat
Nakar
Paniym
Laqach
References
Word Count of 20 Translations in Deuteronomy 16:19
Verse Info
Context Readings
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."
Phrases
Cross References
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?"