Who justifythe wickedfor a bribe,And takeawaythe rightsof the ones whoare in the right!
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
You have condemnedand put to deaththe righteous[man]; he does not resistyou.
He who justifiesthe wickedand he who condemnsthe righteous,Bothof them alikeare an abominationto the LORD.
They bandthemselves togetheragainstthe lifeof the righteousAnd condemnthe innocentto death.
Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
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."
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
He who saysto the wicked,"You are righteous,"Peopleswill cursehim, nationswill abhorhim;
A wickedmanreceivesa bribefrom the bosomTo pervertthe waysof justice.
"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."
"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.
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.
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.
Woeto those who enactevilstatutesAnd to those who constantly recordunjustdecisions,
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.
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.
