Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
Parallel translations
- WEB To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
- KJV It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- NKJV It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- NASB To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.
- NLT It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Favoring the guilty or denying the innocent justice is morally wrong. Partiality in judgment perverts true justice.
Overview
This proverb condemns showing favoritism to the wicked and thereby cheating the innocent of a fair verdict. Impartial justice is a recurring concern of Scripture, reflecting God's own character as the righteous Judge who shows no partiality (Deut. 1:17; Acts 10:34). The gospel both satisfies divine justice and extends impartial mercy to all who come to Christ, whatever their standing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Lev 19:15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
- Deut 16:19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
- Ps 82:2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Prov 28:21To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- Prov 17:15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
- Prov 24:23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
- Matt 22:16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
- Deut 1:16–17At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
- Isa 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
- 1 Kgs 21:9–14In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
- Job 34:19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
- Mic 7:3Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
- Job 13:7–8Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
- Isa 59:14So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 18:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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