These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
Parallel translations
- KJV These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
- BSB These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
- NKJV These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
- NASB ¶These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
- NLT Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
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
This heading introduces a further collection of sayings of the wise, opening with a warning that showing favoritism in judgment is wrong. Justice must treat all impartially.
Overview
Verse 23 begins an appended section of wisdom sayings, repeating the theme of 24:1ff. that wisdom is a shared treasury. Its first principle is impartiality, echoing the Law's command that judges not favor persons (Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17). Because God himself shows no partiality (Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11), his people are to mirror that fairness, and in Christ the perfect Judge this justice is finally and flawlessly realized.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Prov 28:21To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- Prov 18:5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
- Ps 107:43Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
- Jas 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
- 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.
- John 7:24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
- Ps 82:2–4“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
- 2 Chr 19:7Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”
- 1 Tim 5:20–21Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
- 1 Pet 1:17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:
- Deut 1:17You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.”
- 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.
- Prov 1:6to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
- Hos 14:9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
- Eccl 8:1–5Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
- Prov 22:17Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
- Jas 2:4–6haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 24:23 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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