17 You shall not be ⁱpartial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. ^jAnd the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’

18 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people ⁱwith righteous judgment. 19 You shall not ^jpervert justice. You shall not ^kshow partiality, and you shall not accept a ^lbribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.