by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

If a king judges the poor in truth, his throne will be established forever.

Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

the mighty men and warriors, judges and prophets, omen readers and leaders,

He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant.

Remind me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to me that you are right!

I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed throughout foreign countries. In accordance with their behavior and their deeds I judged them.

When the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The Lord felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.

So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor.”

then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions.

The judges will thoroughly investigate the matter, and if the witness should prove to be false and to have given false testimony against the accused,

your elders and judges must go out and measure how far it is to the cities in the vicinity of the corpse.

Then, if the guilty person is sentenced to a beating, the judge shall force him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of blows his wicked behavior deserves.

Now Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir.

Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years.

Jephthah led Israel for six years; then he died and was buried in his city in Gilead.

In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”