Laws of Justice and Mercy

23 “Do not spread false reports.^(A) Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.^(B)

⁵ “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,^(A) adulterers^(B) and perjurers,^(C) against those who defraud laborers of their wages,^(D) who oppress the widows^(E) and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners^(F) among you of justice, but do not fear^(G) me,” says the Lord Almighty.

¹³ Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.^(A)

¹⁶ If a malicious witness^(A) takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, ¹⁷ the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges^(B) who are in office at the time. ¹⁸ The judges must make a thorough investigation,^(C) and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, ¹⁹ then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party.^(D) You must purge the evil from among you. ²⁰ The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid,^(E) and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. ²¹ Show no pity:^(F) life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.^(G)