Deuteronomy 16:19

and not so as to show favoritism to either side. You shall not accept a person’s reputation, nor gifts. For gifts blind the eyes of the wise and alter the words of the just.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The 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.

In Context

18You shall appoint judges and magistrates at all your gates, which the Lord your God will give to you, throughout each of your tribes, so that they may judge the people with a just judgment,

20You shall justly pursue what is just, so that you may live and possess the land, which the Lord your God will give to you.

Read all of Deuteronomy 16

Cross References

Exodus 23:6You shall not deviate in judgment of the poor.

Leviticus 19:15You shall not do what is unjust, nor shall you judge unjustly. You shall not consider the reputation of the poor, nor shall you honor the countenance of the powerful. Judge your neighbor justly.

Deuteronomy 1:17There 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.’

Deuteronomy 24:17You shall not pervert the judgment of the new arrival or the orphan, nor shall you take away the widow’s garment as collateral.

Deuteronomy 27:25Cursed be he who accepts gifts in order to strike down the life of innocent blood. And all the people shall say: Amen.

1 Samuel 12:3Speak about me before the Lord, and before his Christ, as to whether I have taken anyone’s ox or donkey, or whether I have falsely accused anyone, or whether I have oppressed anyone, or whether I have accepted a bribe from the hand of anyone, and I will repudiate the same, this day, and I will restore it to you.”

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 16:19-22

18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 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. 20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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