New King James Version
Proverbs 18:5
5It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
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 Living Translation (NLT)It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.
Context of Proverbs 18:5
3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of 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 things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
- Proverbs 28:21To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
- Leviticus 19:15‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 1:16“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
- Deuteronomy 16:19You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
- Job 13:7Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?
- Job 34:19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.
- Matthew 22:16And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
- 1 Kings 21:9She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;
- Isaiah 5:23Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!
- Isaiah 59:14Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter.
- Micah 7:3That they may successfully do evil with both hands— The prince asks for gifts, The judge seeks a bribe, And the great man utters his evil desire; 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries