Deuteronomy 1:17 - Easy To Read Version When you judge, you must not think that one person is more important than another person. You must judge every person the same. Don’t be afraid of anyone, because your decision is from God. But if there is a case too hard for you to judge, then bring it to me and I will judge it.’ Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition You shall not be partial in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it. American Standard Version (1901) Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it. Common English Bible Don’t show favoritism in a decision. Hear both sides out, whether the person is important or not. Don’t be afraid of anyone because the ruling belongs to God. Any dispute that is too difficult for you to decide, bring to me and I will take care of it. Catholic Public Domain Version There shall be no favoritism to any persons. So you shall listen to the little as well as to the great. And you shall not accept anyone's reputation, for this is the judgment of God. But if anything seems difficult to you, then refer it to me, and I will hear it.' Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version There shall be no difference of persons. You shall hear the little as well as the great. Neither shall you respect any man's person, because it is the judgment of God. And if any thing seem hard to you, refer it to me, and I will hear it. |
Surely you would not destroy the city. You would not destroy 50 good people to kill the evil people. If that happened, then good people and evil people would be the same—they would both be punished. You are the judge of all the earth. I know you will do the right thing.”
We will all die some day. We will be like water that is spilled on the ground. No person can gather this water back from the ground. You know God forgives people. God made plans for people who are forced to run away for safety—God doesn’t force them to run away from him!
Jehoshaphat chose judges in Judah. He chose judges to be in each of the fortresses {\cf2\super [220]} of Judah.
Jehoshaphat said to those judges, “Be careful in what you are doing, because you are not judging for people, but for the Lord. The Lord will be with you when you make a decision.
I have never been afraid\par of what people might say.\par That fear never made me keep quiet.\par It never made me refuse to go outside.\par I am not afraid of people’s hate for me.\par
God says,\par “How long will you judge people unfairly?\par How long will you let wicked people go free without punishment?”\par \i (SELAH {\cf2\super [473]})\i0 \par
It is too much work for you to do alone. You can’t do this job by yourself. It wears you out. And it makes the people tired too!
Let these rulers judge the people. If there is a very important case, then they can come to you and let you decide what to do. But they can decide the other cases themselves. In this way, these men will share your work with you and it will be easier for you to lead the people.
These rulers were judges for the people. The people could always bring their arguments to these rulers. And Moses had to decide only the most important cases.
\{You must be fair in judging people.\} If you let guilty people go free then you are not being fair to good people.
A judge must be fair. He must not support a person simply because of who that person is. But some judges will change their decisions for only the smallest payment.
“As for you, Jeremiah, get ready.\par Stand up and speak to the people.\par Tell them everything that I tell you to say.\par Don’t be afraid of the people.\par If you are afraid of the people,\par then I will give you good reason\par to be afraid of them.\par
“You must be fair in judgment. You must not show special favor to poor people. And you must not show special favor to important people. You must be fair when you judge your neighbor.
“You don’t live the way I told you! You have not accepted my teachings! So I will make you become not important—people will not respect you!”
The Pharisees sent some men to Jesus \{to trick him\}. They sent some of their own followers and some men from the group called Herodians. {\cf2\super [306]} These men said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. We know that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you. All men are the same to you.
The Pharisees and Herodians went to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. You are not afraid of what other people think about you. All men are the same to you. And you teach the truth about God’s way. Tell us: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar {\cf2\super [157]} ? Yes or no? Should we pay taxes, or should we not pay taxes?”
So the men asked Jesus, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. It doesn’t matter who is listening—you teach the same to all people. You always teach the truth about God’s way.
Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Don’t say things to scare them. You know that the One who is your Master and their Master is in heaven. And that Master (God) judges every person the same.
Why? Because the Lord is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To the Lord every person is the same. The Lord does not accept money to change his mind.
You must always be fair. You must not favor some people over other people. You must not take money to change your mind in judgment. Money blinds the eyes of wise people and changes what a good person will say.
“You must make sure that foreigners and orphans [151] are treated fairly. And you must never take clothes from a widow [152] as security. [153]
“When two people have an argument, they should go to the court. The judges will decide which person is right and which person is wrong.
No. We speak the Good News because God tested us and trusted us to tell the Good News. So when we speak, we are not trying to please men. We are trying to please God. God is the One who tests (looks closely at) our hearts.
But if you are treating one person like he is more important than another person, then you are sinning. That royal law proves that you are guilty of breaking God’s law.
You pray to God and call him Father. God judges each man’s work equally. So while you are visiting \{here on earth\}, you should live with fear (respect) for God.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome. But don’t think about things like that. God does not look at the things people see. People look only at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at his heart. Eliab is not the right man.”
If a person sins against another person, God may help him. But if a person sins against the Lord, then who can help that person?”