God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 18:5
5It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person, thereby depriving an innocent person of justice.
Proverbs 18:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
- New King James Version (NKJV)It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Context of Proverbs 18:5
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and insult comes along with disgrace. 4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream. It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person, thereby depriving an innocent person of justice. 6By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating. 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin. His lips are a trap to his soul.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:5 word by word
שְׂאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁ֣ע לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַטּ֥וֹת צַ֝דִּ֗יק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:5
- Proverbs 24:23These also are the sayings of wise people: Showing partiality as a judge is not good.
- Proverbs 28:21Showing partiality is not good, because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread.
- Leviticus 19:15“Don’t be corrupt when administering justice. Never give special favors to poor people, and never show preference to important people. Judge your neighbor fairly.
- Deuteronomy 1:16Also at that time I gave these instructions to your judges: “Hear the cases that your people bring. Judge each case fairly, no matter whether it is ⌞a dispute⌟ between two Israelites or ⌞a dispute⌟ between an Israelite and a non-Israelite.
- Deuteronomy 16:19Never pervert justice. Instead, be impartial. Never take a bribe, because bribes blind wise people and deny justice to those who are in the right.
- Job 13:7“Will you talk wickedly for God and talk deceitfully on his behalf?
- Job 34:19The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all.
- Matthew 22:16They sent their disciples to him along with Herod’s followers. They said to him, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and that you teach the truth about the way of God. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are.
- 1 Kings 21:9In these letters she wrote: “Announce a fast. Seat Naboth as leader of the people.
- Isaiah 5:23who declare the guilty innocent for a bribe, who take away the rights of righteous people.
- Isaiah 59:14Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away. Truth has fallen in the street, and honesty can’t come in.
- Micah 7:3Their hands are skilled in doing evil. Officials ask for gifts. Judges accept bribes. Powerful people dictate what they want. So they scheme together.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5To accept the person of the wicked - We must not, in judicial cases, pay any attention to a man's riches, influence, friends, offices, etc., but judge the case according to its own merits. But when the wicked rich man opposes and oppresses the poor righteous, then all those things should be utterly forgotten.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5Verse 5 The merits of a cause must be looked to, not the person.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. accept the person--(Compare Psa 82:2). "It is not good" is to be supplied before "to overthrow."Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries