Who justifythe wickedfor a bribe,And takeawaythe rightsof the ones whoare in the right!
Then the twoworthlessmencamein and satbeforehim; and the worthlessmentestifiedagainst him, even against Naboth,beforethe people,saying,"NabothcursedGodand the king."So they tookhim outsidethe cityand stonedhim to deathwith stones.
"Nowthen let the fearof the LORDbe upon you; be very carefulwhat you do,for the LORDour Godwill havenopart in unrighteousnessor partialityor the takingof a bribe."
They bandthemselves togetheragainstthe lifeof the righteousAnd condemnthe innocentto death.
He who justifiesthe wickedand he who condemnsthe righteous,Bothof them alikeare an abominationto the LORD.
A wickedmanreceivesa bribefrom the bosomTo pervertthe waysof justice.
He who saysto the wicked,"You are righteous,"Peopleswill cursehim, nationswill abhorhim;
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
Woeto those who enactevilstatutesAnd to those who constantly recordunjustdecisions,
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
And thesealsoreelwith wineand staggerfrom strongdrink:The priestand the prophetreelwith strongdrink,They are confusedby wine,they staggerfrom strongdrink;They reelwhile having visions,They totter[when rendering] judgment.
Who cause a personto be indictedby a word,And ensnarehim who adjudicatesat the gate,And defraudthe onein the rightwith meaninglessarguments.
As for a rogue,his weaponsare evil;He deviseswickedschemesTo destroy[the] afflictedwith slander,Even though [the] needyonespeakswhatis right.
Yes, truthis lacking;And he who turnsasidefrom evilmakeshimself a prey.Now the LORDsaw,And it was displeasingin His sightthat therewas nojustice.
For I knowyour transgressionsare manyand your sinsare great,[You] who distressthe righteous[and] acceptbribesAnd turnasidethe poorin the gate.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
sothat upon you may fall[the guilt of] allthe righteousbloodshedon earth,from the bloodof righteousAbelto the bloodof Zechariah,the sonof Berechiah,whomyou murderedbetweenthe templeand the altar.
"You shall not distortjustice;you shall not be partial,and you shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe eyesof the wiseand pervertsthe wordsof the righteous.
You have condemnedand put to deaththe righteous[man]; he does not resistyou.
