“Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

Laws of Justice and Mercy

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,

“Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

“‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.

Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.

“Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

He built the throne hall, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge, and he covered it with cedar from floor to ceiling.

Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.

Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,

I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.

“If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,