It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
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.
- BSB Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
- 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 19:15“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.
- Deut 16:19You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts 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 17:15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
- 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, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
- Deut 1:16–17I commanded your judges at that time, saying, “Hear cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is living with him.
- Isa 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!
- 1 Kgs 21:9–14She wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
- Job 34:19Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.
- Mic 7:3Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
- Job 13:7–8Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
- Isa 59:14Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has fallen in the street, and uprightness can’t enter.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.