¹⁵ He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

²³ Who for a reward give support to the cause of the sinner, and who take away the righteousness of the upright from him.

⁷ Keep yourselves far from any false business; never let the upright or him who has done no wrong be put to death: for I will make the evil-doer responsible for his sin.

⁵ To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.

⁶ You have given your decision against the upright man and have put him to death. He puts up no fight against you.

⁵ But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness.

¹⁸ But with loud voices they said all together, Put this man to death, and make Barabbas free.

¹⁹ Now this man was in prison because of an attack against the government in the town, in which there had been loss of life.

²⁰ And Pilate again said to them that it was his desire to let Jesus go free.

²¹ But crying out they said, To the cross with him!

²² And he said to them a third time, Why, what evil has he done? I see no reason for putting him to death: I will give him punishment and let him go.

²³ But they went on crying out loudly, Let him be put to death on the cross. And they had their way.

²⁴ And Pilate gave his decision for their desire to be put into effect.

²⁵ And in answer to their request, he let that man go free who had been in prison for acting against the government and causing death, and Jesus he gave up to their pleasure.

¹² Is it possible for horses to go running on the rock? may the sea be ploughed with oxen? for the right to be turned by you into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into a bitter plant?

¹² For I have seen how your evil-doing is increased and how strong are your sins, you troublers of the upright, who take rewards and do wrong to the cause of the poor in the public place.

⁷ You who make the work of judging a bitter thing, crushing down righteousness to the earth;

²⁷ Her rulers in her are like wolves violently taking their food; putting men to death and causing the destruction of souls, so that they may get their profit.

²⁸ And her prophets have been using whitewash, seeing foolish visions and making false use of secret arts, saying, This is what the Lord has said, when the Lord has said nothing.

²⁹ The people of the land have been acting cruelly, taking men's goods by force; they have been hard on the poor and those in need, and have done wrong to the man from a strange land.

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, or your ways my ways, says the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

²³ These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.

²⁴ He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

⁸ The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.

¹⁶ Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:

¹³ And the two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people, saying, Naboth has been cursing God and the king. Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.

¹ Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.