Select wise and practical men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.”

You must not pervert justice or show favor. Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort the words of the righteous.

Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish, unwise people? Is he not your father, your creator? He has made you and established you.

So I chose as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials.

So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, “Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.”