25:1 If controversy arises between people, 1 they should go to court for judgment. When the judges 2 hear the case, they shall exonerate 3 the innocent but condemn 4 the guilty.
17:15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent 5 –
both of them are an abomination to the Lord. 6
3:10 Tell the innocent 7 it will go well with them, 8
for they will be rewarded for what they have done. 9
1 tn Heb “men.”
2 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the judges) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “declare to be just”; KJV, NASB “justify the righteous”; NAB, NIV “acquitting the innocent.”
4 tn Heb “declare to be evil”; NIV “condemning the guilty (+ party NAB).”
5 tn Heb “he who justifies the wicked and and he who condemns the righteous” (so NASB). The first colon uses two Hiphil participles, מַצְדִּיק (matsdiq) and מַרְשִׁיעַ (marshia’). The first means “to declare righteous” (a declarative Hiphil), and the second means “to make wicked [or, guilty]” or “to condemn” (i.e., “to declare guilty”). To declare someone righteous who is a guilty criminal, or to condemn someone who is innocent, are both abominations for the Righteous Judge of the whole earth.
6 tn Heb “an abomination of the
7 tn Or “the righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, TEV); NLT “those who are godly.”
8 tn Heb “that it is good.”
9 tn Heb “for the fruit of their deeds they will eat.”
10 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
11 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
12 tn Heb “the righteousness of the righteous one will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked one will be upon him.”
13 tn Grk “but even,” to emphasize the contrast. The second word has been omitted since it is somewhat redundant in English idiom.